MDP against long-line fishing, confidence loss in economy

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said Saturday, the current government’s decision to permit long-line fishing, claiming international confidence in the Maldivian economy will be lost.

The MDP leadership expressed their concerns after the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources recently announced it was seeking public opinion on a draft regulation on permitting long-line yellowfin tuna fishing. The regulation also outlines extending a license to export processed sharks that get caught and die during long-line fishing.

Long-line fishing for yellowfin tuna was first permitted in 2012, but was banned during the MDP-led government in 2019.

Fayyaz Ismail, the former Minister of Economic Development, said on X the former government banned long-line fishing because it “recognized the benefits of sustainable fisheries to the entire fisheries industry,” and the “continuity over any possible benefits of long line fisheries.”

The former minister criticized the current government, led by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, claiming the incumbent state was unable to “understand the issues at hand and the destructive policies” it has been pushing for the benefit of a few individual beneficiaries, which MDP said was “ensuring a fast trajectory towards the complete destruction” of the economic gains during the last decade.

Fayyaz warned the Maldives is at risk of an alarming loss of confidence in the economy by investors, businesses and public at large, if the current administration does not promptly reverse its “illogical ad hoc” approach of dealing with the current financial situation.

“There is still room to bring in credibility by course correction. We urge the government to immediately reverse its policy on lifting the ban on long line fisheries and shark fishery,” Fayyaz said in his post.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister and current MDP President Abdulla Shahid echoed similar sentiments.

In his post on X, Shahid said he was “shocked” the government has decided to abandon sustainability, which he said is one of the key features of Maldivian fisheries industry.

Shahid also said that the government’s decision to lift the ban on long line fisheries and facilitating shark fisheries is “reckless and one that will reverse gains” made during the MDP-led government.

“It endangers the tourism industry and our international reputation and leadership,” Shahid said and highlighted the high bycatch, including the endangered species “which are critical” to the Maldives marine ecosystem will “also harm our prospects of bolstering trade.”

Shahid urged the current government for an immediate reversal of this “ill-considered” decision and work in the best interests of the public.

Although the sharks caught and killed during long line fishing will be processed and exported under the proposed regulation, specifically employing this fishing method to catch sharks is prohibited, Fisheries Ministry in a press release announced earlier.

The press release highlighted that long line fishing is applicable only for large tuna types, including yellowfin, big-eye, and billfish. The ministry urged the prompt release of sharks caught during long line fishing as well.