In (partial) defense of modern pirates

I've heard stories for years about pirates operating off the Somali coast; the appropriate response in my view would be lethal. That opinion still applies when pirates attack passenger or legitimate cargo vessels. But I learned this today from the Guardian (U.K.):

...as bizarre as it sounds, there is some truth in the pirates' claim that they are acting as a coastguard. Under international law, a country's 'exclusive economic zone' - where it has sole rights over marine and mineral resources - extends 200 nautical miles out to sea. Foreign ships are allowed to pass through these waters, but not to fish without a permit.

Yet at any one time there are up to 500 foreign-registered boats fishing in Somalia's rich waters, according to the Seafarers' Assistance Programme. European boats catch tuna or shrimp; vessels from the Far East catch sharks for their fins. Almost all are fishing illegally. Often, pirate attacks are not even reported to maritime authorities: the ransoms paid are regarded as legitimate fines, both by the pirates and the ship-owners.