A Yemeni fishing vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates off Somali northern coasts, while one of its 12 crew members was killed, official news agency Saba reported Friday.

The report cited security authorities in the southeast province of Hadramout as saying that the hijack took place on Thursday while the Yemeni fishing vessel was in the Somali territory waters.

The 12 crew members comprise eight Yemeni fishermen, two Somalis and two Tanzanian nationals, said the report, adding that "Othman Mohamed of Tanzania was killed by Somali pirates during the operation of seizing the Yemeni vessel."

The vessel along with its 11 crew members is now in the captivity of Somali pirates while the Yemeni security authorities have adopted measures seeking to release them, said the report.

Saba's report neither provided further information on the reason behind the existence of the hijacked Yemeni fishing vessel nor the details on its crew members, but said the vessel left al- Shiher port in Hadramout in late February.

On Wednesday, Yemen said its naval forces foiled a hijacking attempt by Somali pirates to seize a Yemeni oil tanker off Yemen's southern coastal rim in Shabwa province.