President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated yesterday that it has been noted that the number of fishermen is decreasing, and the government is working to rectify the issue.

Responding to a question from "Mihaaru" in this week's episode of "The Pulse" program prepared by the President's Office, the President stated that although an official survey has not yet been conducted to look into the extent to which the number of fishermen is decreasing, the government has also noted that the number of fishermen has declined.

According to him, the main reason is that when the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih provided jobs to many people in state-owned enterprises, it included a large number of fishermen. He also stated that an official survey will be conducted within the next two months or so to determine how many people stopped fishing and transitioned to other activities.

"How this has actually happened in reality, I believe, is because during the time of the previous government, jobs were given in state companies, especially Fenaka, to youth who were working in the islands, the youth who were working in the fishing industry," the President said.

"That is a very easy income, staying in the island, and if a decent salary is received while staying at home, it will be very easy to choose that way."

According to President Muizzu, Fenaka Corporation provided employment to the highest number of people back then. He stated that thousands of people were brought into that corporation, and as a result, many people moved away from fishing, leading to fishing vessels having to be sold off.

"Now the fishing vessels in the islands will be very few proportionally compared to before. So we are working once again to rectify that," the President said.

He stated that one of the things being done in this regard is "rightsizing" the companies, and that special attention is being given to Fenaka in doing so.

He stated that bringing that change to the companies would increase the number of youth entering the fishing industry, and that the number of youth entering other private sector jobs would also increase then.

"In reality, because all the youth or all the citizens are held back by being given jobs in government SOEs like this, the real economy does not expand. Productivity does not increase because of it," the President said.

He noted that the government is working to correct this through a holistic economic policy, and its outcome will be beneficial to fisheries and other sectors.