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Fisheries Minister reveals plan to increase Kooddoo fishing complex capacity

Mohamed Rehan
25 May 2022, MVT 10:05
Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan, Minister of environment speaks at People's majlis during a sitting.
Mohamed Rehan
25 May 2022, MVT 10:05

Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan has revealed government's plan to increase the capacity of Kooddoo fishing complex.

According to the minister, the government aims to increment storage capacity to facilitate storage of 800 tons per day.

The plan is expected to be executed before the fishing season in the Maldives.

Fishing is an economic component that is seasonal depending on a variety of factors including weather conditions, tides, as well as level of fish abundance.

Meanwhile, the industry holistically has addressed difficulties in weighing fish at fisheries complexes during fishing-heavy seasons.

This also resulted in strong criticism directed at the state.

Furthermore, the minister while addressing to questions at the parliament session on Monday noted that the ministry was actively preparing both short-term and long-term solutions to the issues faced by local fishermen and the fishing industry.

Kooddoo fisheries complex is one of the busiest in terms of fish volume being weighed and purchased.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hassan speculates that the fishing season in Maldives will kick off somewhere between August to September in 2022, which he suggested based on data collected from the past 10 years.

The minister projects an estimation of 800 to 1000 tons of fish being weighed at the Koodoo fishing complex during the season.

The current capacity of the complex only allows for 400 tons of fish per day.

According to the minister, the only possibility of improving the capacity of Kooddoo within the following three months is by purchasing freezer vessels. The minister noted the requirement of a minimum of three additional vessels to achieve this.

The minister claimed a special meeting to discuss the matter was held at the President's Office on Monday morning, 23rd May.

Earlier, MIFCO claimed a total of 63 vessels berthed at Kooddoo harbor with a total of 900 tons of fish. However, due to the capacity maxing out at 480 tons, resulting in lengthy periods to weigh out the fish from all the vessels.

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