Shiyam: Funds arranged to develop fisheries; implementation next

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam states all necessary funds to implement President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s policies aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector have been secured.

Yesterday marked the 44^th National Fishermen’s Day. During an interview with state media, PSM, on the occasion, Minister Shiyam said the current administration’s goal is to ensure the fisheries sector is self-sufficient to not require subsidiaries.

He noted that many plans are in the pipeline to improve and develop the fisheries sector in order to achieve this goal. In this regard, he detailed that they include resolving fish storage and ice plant constraints presently faced. 

According to the Minister, the Maldives has a total storage capacity of 8,500 metric tonnes which includes 4,200 metric tonnes of storage on land and additional storage available on vessels. Emphasizing that capacity is less than adequate, he said there are efforts to increase the total storage capacity to 25,000 metric tonnes.

“We have secured all funds necessary for the plans we have for the fisheries industry. I can assure that these places will be operationalized in the next one and a half years or two years. By the will of Almighty, we will work this much,” he said.

Minister Shiyam underscored that RSW systems in northern atolls were less compared to southern atolls. As such, he said there is a higher demand for ice in northern atolls. Thus, the Minister said the majority of the 17 ice plants being developed by the current administration will be based in northern atolls.

Speaking further, the Minister expressed a positive outlook with respect to the development of the mariculture sector in the Maldives. In this trajectory, he said a large number of stakeholders in the mariculture sector worldwide are interested in the Maldives.

“I see mariculture sector becoming one the biggest industries in the Maldives generating foreign currency revenue. All funds required to implement the President’s policies aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector has been secured. Next is their implementation,” he said.

Disbursing payment for fishermen within 48 hours is also an electoral pledge of President Muizz. The delays in fulfilling the pledge coupled with the delays in receiving payments had prompted fishermen to stage protests. However, the first payment for fishermen under 48 hours was credited yesterday, accounting for MVR 2.04 million for fish weighed on Sunday.

President Muizzu also confirms the government has settled MVR 39 million in previously unsettled payments as of Tuesday, which is the backlog of the last two weeks.

Moreover, fishermen will be able to purchase fuel at STO rate from four more locations effective of today. They are: K. Himmafushi, Addu City Hulhumeedhoo, Kooddoo and Felivaru.