President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the number of people employed in the fisheries industry is increasing as the sector undergoes development and expansion.
Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the government’s second anniversary, the President said that when his administration took office, the fisheries sector was in a vulnerable state. The new administration gave special priority to strengthen and revitalise the fisheries industry, he said.
The President said ice plants had been in disrepair when his administration assumed office. Since then, several new facilities have been established and opened in four islands. He added that Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) systems have already been installed on several fishing vessels through loan assistance provided specifically for the purpose.
With the continued growth to the fisheries sector, the President said expanding cold storage and ice plants remains a key priority of the government. When the administration took office, the cold storage capacity was at 9,500 tonnes. This amount is expected to increase to 24,500 tonnes by the end of the current presidential term, he said. This will be achieved once ongoing works are completed, and will bring about significant development to the fishing industry.
The President also highlighted the swift progress of foreign-funded projects ongoing in Kooddoo and the efforts by Maldives Industrial Fishing Company (MIFCO). He said the government is actively listening to the concerns of the fishermen to further develop Kooddoo.
“The weighing scale used in Kooddoo is very much a legitimate concern for fishermen. Once the fish is weighed using the scale, nearly half of the actual weight is not recorded. This scale must be replaced. MIFCO’s Managing Director has given the assurance that the scale will be upgraded to a digital scale before 10 December,” the President said.
The President said that the government has undertaken significant efforts to enhance the fisheries sector further. While the government policy aims to settle the payments for fishermen’s catch sold to the state within 48 hours, the money is now released daily, he said, adding that payments are released even on public holidays.
"The positive results of timely payments are becoming clear. Earlier, many young people left the fishing industry because they were not being paid on time. Now, they are returning to the fishing boats. Our aim is for locals to replace foreign workers on fishing vessels,” the President said.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring uninterrupted payments to fishermen and providing them with the facilities they need. He added that, in line with his presidential pledge, fishermen across the atolls will have access to fuel from the State Trading Organisation (STO) rate. He said he is also working to ensure easy access to ice.