Government is aiming to place 36 Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) across the Maldives, the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam has revealed.
The placement of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) is a government-led initiative aimed at supporting and enhancing the welfare of fishermen. These FADs include both pole and line and sports FADs, providing valuable resources and opportunities for fishing communities.
In an exclusive interview with PSM News, Minister Shiyam described further development of sports fishing as crucial to diversifying both the fishing and tourism industry.
Highlighting the growing global interest for sports fishing, he said the vision of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is to commercialise and develop sports fishing as a revenue generating sector of the country.
In efforts towards reaching the goal, the government is aiming to place 36 FADs across the Maldives, specially designed for sports fishing enthusiasts, he said.
"We are setting up a network of sports fishing FADsacross the country. We are installing these FADsto complement the research we have done on this. Hopefully we are aiming to place 36 sports fishing FADs in different parts of the country in addition to the pole-and-line FADs,” he explained.
These sports fishing-specific devices attract marine life by providing artificial shade through floating structures, enhancing local fishing opportunities. To simplify identification, they are painted yellow and installed three to six nautical miles offshore from inhabited islands—distinguishing them from pole-and-line FADs.
While deploying new devices remains a priority, maintaining existing structures is equally critical. The ministry oversees a programme to repair damaged devices, ensuring their operational integrity.
Production and installation are centred in Hulhumalé, where facilities are equipped to meet growing demands. Recognising this need, plans are underway to establish additional centres in the northern and southern regions, including Funadhoo in Shaviyani Atoll and Addu Atoll.
Each FAD is assigned a unique identification number, ensuring effective management.
Within this programme, two distinct categories of FADs play a pivotal role. 'Dhoshi Kandhufathi' devices cater to skipjack tuna fishing using pole-and-line methods, while "Vadhu Kandufathi" devices, such as the one in Shaviyani Atoll, serve the specific needs of sports fishing enthusiasts. Nationwide, 65 devices are dedicated to traditional tuna fishing, alongside 26 designated for sports fishing.