Ihavandhoo fisheries complex project inaugurated

The development of Ihavandhoo fisheries complex was inaugurated on Wednesday.

In a special ceremony held in Haa Alifu atoll Ihavandhoo, the ground breaking of the complex was initiated by the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam, Ihavandhoo council’s president Ahmed Sobah, and CEO of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) Vitaly Lyubimov.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Maldives government and the Islamic Development Bank, and will see the establishment of a 1,000-ton cold storage facility and a 50-ton brine freezing facility in the complex as well.

A quay wall of 137 meters, a fish-weighing jetty, and a channel with a depth of 3.5 meters will be developed at the harbor of the complex, with the prospective of 150 new employment opportunities. The complex will also feature administrative and utility blocks.

Speaking about the initiative, Minister of Fisheries had noted the people of Ihavandhoo had been anticipating the project for long, and is aimed at easing the public in several aspects.

He noted that fishers in the region currently have to travel to Felivaru to sell their catches currently, which incur expenses for them in terms of fuel and time.

“Fishers will be able save significantly, which in turn would increase their profits. The complex will also open new job opportunities in the region as well,” the minister said.

He further added the project will boost the Maldivian fisheries industry as well.

The current cold storage capacity throughout the Maldives is 8,500 tons, while the current government is aiming to increase this capacity to 25,000 tons.