Police raid protesting fishing boats, collect information on foreign workers

Police have raided several fishing vessels participating in an ongoing protest demanding that state-owned fisheries company MIFCO resume purchasing yellowfin tuna. Officers have also begun identifying and detaining some expatriate workers found on board the boats.

Videos circulating on social media since yesterday show police officers attempting to board and arrest individuals on vessels moored outside Male’s northern harbour.

However, police have not yet confirmed whether any arrests have been made.

A police media official told Mihaaru News that expatriates were seen taking part in the fishermen’s protest and were instructed not to participate. Police and Maldives Immigration are now working jointly to collect information on the foreign workers.

“Foreigners were observed participating in the ongoing protest. Police and Immigration are working together to gather information about the foreigners working on the boats,” a police spokesperson said.

Mauroof Zakir, co-founder and general secretary of the fishermen’s union, told Raajje TV that the expatriates on the vessels are crew members who live on the boats.

“There are foreigners in these boats, this is not a lie. Most of them are here under valid quotas. They live on these boats as crew,” he said.

Fishermen from 49 vessels began the protest yesterday morning in the Hulhumalé Kannelli Jetty area. Several boats carrying banners sailed towards Malé in the afternoon, but the MNDF Coast Guard stopped them before they could enter the harbour channel. The vessels then anchored outside the northern harbour entrance.

Protesting fishermen are demanding that the government ensure MIFCO purchases yellowfin tuna or open discussions to find alternative solutions. They say the protest will continue until their demands are met.

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam today said preparations are underway to begin operations at the Hulhumalé fish processing facility in January. He also announced that by March next year, at least one island in each atoll will be able to supply fishermen with fuel at STO’s base rate.

“Since June last year, under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s direction, fuel distribution in the Malé area has changed to provide base-rate fuel through STO,” he said, adding that further efforts were needed to strengthen the fishing industry.

“Happy days are ahead for fishing families. This government will certainly provide solutions to the concerns of all types of fishermen in the Maldives,” he said.