The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the current year will see the fulfillment of several key pledges for the fishing sector. The Minister shared these remarks in a social media post regarding President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s ongoing visit to some islands in Huvadhu Atoll.
According to Minister Shiyam, one of the main outcomes of the President’s ongoing visit is the enthusiastic reception from fishermen of the Atoll, who have welcomed the President’s efforts to develop the fisheries sector. He noted that both ongoing efforts and upcoming initiatives in fishing islands have been positively received by the people. He described the current year as the year during which key pledges made by President Muizzu to the fishing sector would reach actualisation.
While key initiatives to grow the fisheries sector will be implemented this year, the government has already made notable progress throughout its first term in office, including clearing all pending payments owed to fishermen and ensuring consistent payments for their catch within 48 hours of purchase by Maldives Industrial Fishing Company (MIFCO).
The Fisheries Ministry confirmed that several infrastructural projects related to the fishing sector will also commence this year. This includes the development of a fish factory in Fiyoari, Gaafu Alifu Atoll. The project agreement is expected to be signed next month, with implementation set to begin within two months of signing.
The project’s scope includes establishing a fish factory that can produce 100 tonnes of canned tuna and 100 tonnes of fish meal, as well as the development of a cold storage with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes of fish, and the establishment of a 50-tonne ice plant.
The government acknowledges that the Maldives struggles to fetch the best price for its fish products due to lack of adequate storage capacity. As a result, over 65 percent of fish caught have to be exported as raw fish.
Under efforts to address this issue, plans are in place to increase Kooddoo’s cold storage capacity by an additional 4,000 tonnes. While the current cold storage capacity across the Maldives is 8,500 tonnes, it is a presidential pledge of President Dr Muizzu to double this capacity. The government now aims to triple it to 25,000 tonnes. According to the Fisheries Minister, 15,500 tonnes will be added during the current presidential term.