The pirates in the Red Sea were probably very real, seeing that sea trade in that area had long been lucrative when the Romans used it to trade with the Axum Kingdom, then further east with India and the other peoples around. So pirates looking to surprise a merchant ship or two and enrich themselves instantly would only be natural.
Problem is, our map doesn't extend that far south - nor do I want to see it do so (would be too out of focus) - and hence the historical lucrative trade routes I spoke of are non-existent, meaning it is best that the associated levels of piracy be eliminated as well.