Foreign fishing boats slapped with MVR 500,000 fine

Foreign boats caught fishing illegally in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have been fined MVR 500,000.

In a post on X on Thursday, the Fisheries Ministry said that they investigated five Sri Lankan fishing boats caught fishing in the Maldives EEZ on September 18.

A spokesperson from the Fisheries Ministry said each of the boats were fined MVR 100,000.

The ministry said that the boats were deported after they paid the fine.

The Fisheries Ministry said they have investigated 20 foreign boats that fished in the Maldives EEZ since the new Fisheries Act took effect in 2019.