With the recent surge of piracy off the coast of Somalia I've been thinking ... "What is with all the Pirates?"

Here's the situation in a nutshell according to the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration or MARAD.

Who are Somalia's Pirates ?

• Former fishermen whose fishing areas have been exploited by foreign commercial fishing. Because of the lucrative ransoms, others factions joined in the activity.

Who do they work for ?

• The pirates mainly work for themselves. Pirate gangs probably have relationships with corrupt officials to gather information.

Who Benefits from Piracy ?

• The money is distributed within the clan to families and friends. Pirates have used revenues to buy luxury homes, cars, and additional wives.

How Did They Get So Good at This?

• Practice, practice, practice. This type of piracy has been going on since 1995.

Thankfully modern piracy is not a problem in Michigan's waterways, but did you know that at one point there were pirates in The Great Lakes? Don't worry because I didn't either.

Steve Miller for WBBM writes that, "Lake Michigan was home to a few pirates from the 19th and early 20th centuries." He continues by citing an 1885 Times article that reported on the incident, "people in the area around Saugutuck, Michigan, 'thrown into the most intense excitement by the operations of a gang of marauders, who are reported to be Mormons from Beaver Island.' 50 years later, a 40-foot schooner full of cedar posts was stolen and after being unable to sell the loot the pirate was captured."

Learn more with this comprehensive list of books on The Great Lakes. You'll find history and stories ranging from shipwrecks to pirates to all things inbetween.

Check out the Pure Michigan website for great ideas on fun things to do in Michigan.

Read the full article about Great Lakes Pirates on WBBM.

Check out the full Somali Piracy Tactics document on the MARAD website.