KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia >> A global maritime watchdog says sea piracy worldwide hit a record high of 142 attacks in the first quarter this year as Somalian pirates become more violent and aggressive.

The International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting center says 97 of the attacks occurred off the coast of Somalia, up sharply from 35 in the same period last year.

It says attackers seized 18 vessels worldwide, including three big tankers, in the January-March period and captured 344 crew members. Pirates also murdered seven crew members and injured 34 during the quarter.

The Kuala Lumpur-based center’s director Pottengal Mukundan said Thursday that there was a “dramatic increase in the violence and techniques” used by Somali pirates to counter increased patrols by international navies.