What are the short-run prevention measures to the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia?

One proposed solution, to the piracy off the coast of Somalia, consists of a military land intervention by an international community. “… a series of small military operations could be carried out in order to identify, pacify and contain the elements of concern. … by addressing piracy groups on an individual basis” (Kunertova, D. et al., 2010). However, this type of

Military intervention brings with it the likelihood of casualties, whether they are pirate or civilian … a single Somalian casualty would be fiercely avenged by the individual clans and sub clan alliances. This would essentially tip the delicately balanced system Puntland has established into a state of potential anarchy, it would provide an excuse for elements such as Al-Shabab to enter Puntland under the guise of resistance and further destabilize the area. (Kunertova, D. et al., 2010)

Hence, if it is to have any chance of success, a military intervention “has to be undertaken by the Somali Puntland authorities themselves” (Kunertova, D. et al., 2010).

Another way to counter the piracy threat would be to further enhance the naval protection in the region. However, this may not suffice as “Pirates are [already] operating far away off the coastline from Somalia and because of growing financial capabilities via ransom and advanced technologies, the operational area of pirates has enlarged to an unknown area” (Kunertova, D. et al., 2010).

“An often, especially from practice, suggested solution to encounter the piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden is the involvement of the private sector. … The concept provides that commercial vessels are protected by professional trained and well equipped teams. Ideally the sole presence of those teams should deter potential attackers.” But again, there is a risk that pirates will shift their attacks towards poorly protected ships, as all ships passing through the Gulf of Aden cannot be expected to hire private security (Kunertova, D. et al., 2010).

References

Kunertova, D. et al. (2010). “European Anti-piracy Strategy: Somalian Piracy: Today’s Challenge Addressed by an EU Initiative”, Dresden Technical University, New Dimensions of Security in Europe, http://tu-dresden.de/die_tu_dresden/zentrale_einrichtungen/zis/newseceu/outcomes/papers_folder/MilSec_EU%20anti-piracy%20strategy.pdf