It’s true, Britney Spears songs are actually used to deter pirates off the coast of Somalia. Here are 25 things you didn’t know about Somali pirates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1T8M6cp3-o
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Piracy off the coast of Somalia started with fisherman defending their territory
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After the Somali government collapsed in 1991 other nations started fishing and dumping toxic waste in Somali waters
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The local fisherman would board the foreign vessels and demand a fee
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They called themselves the "Coast Guard" and their stated mission was to defend Somalia's territorial integrity until the formation of a new government
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These patrols eventually expanded their reach and their motives
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Piracy is now Somalia's biggest source of income bringing in nearly $200 million annually
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Most of the pirates are young and come from the war torn southern regions
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There are typically three categories of pirates
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The first is the fisherman. They are valuable for their seafaring skill and knowledge of the open waters
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The second is the ex-militiaman. They previously fought for local warlords and clans.
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The third is the technical expert who operates equipment such as GPS devices
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The closest Somali word for pirate literally translates as "ocean robber" but most of the pirates prefer a term translated as "saviors of the sea"
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With the use of motherships, the range of pirate skiffs has been extended well into the Indian Ocean
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Pirates generally access the ships via ladders that they bring with them.
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They will then typically use RPGs and small arms to intimidate the crew
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Harming the crew typically goes strongly against the pirate code so there have not been very many pirate related casualties in the last few decades
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The policy of not harming hostages also ensures that governments are less likely to step in and employ "do not negotiate" tactics
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The success of pirating has changed Somalia's economy. It's financial sector is surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) well developed
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The operations are now very vast and intricate with an actual "stock exchange" existing where financiers can buy stock in upcoming raids
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There are numerous third parties benefiting from piracy as well. These include insurance providers and pirates who have set up operations to double as pirate negotiators
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Another interesting side effect is that formerly impoverished Somali and Kenyan fisherman are now able to make a living as fish populations return to normal after the departure of foreign fishing vessels
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Apparently Britney Spears songs have been used as a deterrent against pirates by warships in the region
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Several pirates have been prosecuted already, notably 6 were executed by a Yemeni court
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In contrast, those tried in Europe receive several years in prison and are then typically not sent back to Somalia because it is deemed as too dangerous.
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