Increased Youth Participation Observed in Fishing Industry with Assured Payments: Fisheries Minister

The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the government aims to bring revolutionary changes to the fishing industry, with increasing youth participation in the sector due to timely and regular payments assured for fishermen. He made the remark while speaking at a forum held to discuss this year’s Presidential Address delivered by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu at the opening ceremony for the new parliamentary session.

The Minister highlighted efforts undertaken by the government to strengthen the fishing industry, noting that when the new administration took over, there was a significant backlog in paying fishermen due to a sudden change in fish prices implemented by the previous administration. However, the government has successfully cleared all pending dues, ensuring that payments are now settled for fishermen for their catch regularly, in line with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s presidential pledge, he noted.

With these changes in place, youth who had once engaged in the sector and left it are now returning to fishing boats once again, the Minister noted.

“Many who had previously left the industry are now retuning because they see it as a promising sector with real opportunities. The government has brought unprecedented changes to the industry that have not been seen in 40 years. This transformation will have a lasting impact for the next 50 to 60 years,” he said.

The Minister further noted that although the law includes a provision on training those active in the fishing industry, it is President Dr Muizzu who has brought it into practice. The government is undertaking significant efforts to build youth in different sectors of the fishing industry, he added.

Speaking on the current challenges facing the fishing sector, the Minister said cold storages and ice plants capacities remain inadequate, and there is a lack of trained personnel to work at these facilities. Therefore, the government will focus on capacity building in these areas, he assured.