Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has pledged to work towards providing affordable fuel for fishermen. He made the commitment after meeting with the fishermen and council members from Naifaru, Lhaviyani Atoll, where he listened to their concerns.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Shiyam acknowledged the fishermen's concerns about rising fuel prices. He assured them that he would pursue discussions with the State Trading Organisation (STO) and its subsidiary, Fuel Supply Maldives Private Limited (FSM), to secure cheaper fuel options for the fishing community.
Additionally, Minister Shiyam shared updates on the government’s fishermen registration programme, explaining how to register and highlighting the benefits available to individuals who do. He also provided information on loans available for installing saltwater fish cooling systems, known as Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW).
Naifaru is known for its fishing activities, with around 25 fishing vessels currently in operation and many young residents involved in the fisheries sector.