The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has held a special workshop on recreational fishing in the Maldives. The workshop was attended by 60 fishermen from across the country.
According to the Ministry, the workshop, titled ‘Masveringe Gunzaru’ was aimed at those involved in recreational fishing or sport fishing. The main objective of the workshop was to explore ways to promote recreational fishing in a sustainable manner. The challenges faced by those engaged in sport fishing, and what can be done to address these challenges were also discussed.
The workshop also served as a platform to convey the feedback and ideas of the participants of the workshops to policy level, and discuss the opportunities for further development of recreational fishing.
The Ministry of Fisheries said this was the first such meeting held in the Maldives targeting recreational fishermen. The Ministry stated its intention to hold more such meetings in the future to strengthen the state’s engagement with the recreational fishing community.
According to the Ministry, the workshop received strong public interest. While a total of 216 applications were submitted from across the country, 60 applicants were selected to attend the workshop. Participants were selected such that the representation of all atolls were endured.
Recreational fishing is an increasingly popular activity among the youth. The government has identified five locations for the development of sports fishing harbours. The harbours will feature fish stalls, an administrative office for organising tournaments, restaurants, cafes, as well as fishing and barbecue facilities.
The government is actively working to further expand sport fishing and reef fishing, under efforts to diversify fisheries and increase economic opportunities as well as boost income.