Somali Pirates: Taiwanese and Yemeni Fishing Boats Taken

Somali pirates seize Taiwanese fishing vessel:

Somali pirates have captured a Taiwanese fishing boat off the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Seychelles, a maritime observer said on Saturday.

"Taiwanese fishing vessel TAIYUAN 227 is taken by pirates off Seychelles. Crew are composed of Chinese, Mozambican, Kenyan and Taiwanese nationals," said Andrew Mwangura, who heads the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

No further details were immediately available.

Also a report of a captured Yemeni fishing boat here:

Somali pirates have hijacked a Yemeni fishing boat in the Red Sea in western Yemen with a crew of 7 members onboard.

The boat was towed to Somali coast, the September website reported on Friday.

The hijacking came as pirates have recently stepped up their attacks off Yemen hijacking some Yemeni and foreign ships and tankers.

The Seychelles area attack is not shocking, but taking the Yemeni fishing boat in the Red Sea, out through the Bab-el-Mandeb through the Gulf of Aden to the coast of Somalia - that's really surprising.