Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan has assured the Maldives will always initiate protecting the live fish stock. He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 32nd Session of the G16 Indian Ocean Coastal State.
The 32nd session of G16 is hosted by the fisheries ministry in Hotel Jen. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposals for the 26th conference of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
Speaking at the ceremony, Fisheries Minister Hassan said the Maldives will not stay back and watch the extinction of fish stock, as Maldivian lifestyle, history, and economy is widely dependent on fisheries. He said there is a risk that the world's fish stocks getting depleted if fishermen and the stakeholders are not cautious.
Furthermore, the minister expressed concern over the inability to export Yellowfin Tuna to Canada and USA. Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have stopped the purchase of Yellowfin Tuna from the Indian Ocean following concerns over its extinction. On the same note, the minister said the issue cannot be solved by the Maldives alone.
The 32nd session of G16 Indian Ocean Coastal State is being participated by high-level delegates from 15 countries.