Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has called for discussions on bringing fish caught near the Maldives but outside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to the Maldives for processing.
Speaking at the “Ahaa” forum, where ministers answer public questions, Shiyam said the Maldives needed to explore ways to increase revenue from marine resources as fish stocks in the upper layers of the sea decline due to climate change.
“There is fish in the sea, in our EEZ and outside the EEZ. So we are not only taking fish from other fisheries, but also taking them to other countries, processing them and putting them in the markets,” Minister Shiyam said.
He cited the planned fish harbour in Addu City as an example of how fish caught using nets or other fishing methods could be brought to the Maldives for processing.
“For example, in Addu City, if we have built a fish harbour and done that [buying and processing fish], we will get revenue. Then we will have to look at how we will manage it,” he said.
Minister Shiyam said the possibility was worth discussing, but stressed that fisheries policy decisions would require consideration of several factors.
The government had previously decided to allow longline fishing in response to declining fish catches in the upper layers of the sea, he said.
“They were going to allow the line [for longline fishing] with very good measures,” Minister Shiyam said.
However, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu later “postponed it for a while” out of concern that the move could affect fishermen, according to Shiyam.
The minister said a strong El Niño in the Pacific was expected to raise sea temperatures and contribute to heat-related problems in the Maldives, making it necessary to consider alternatives to traditional fishing methods.
He said changes in ocean conditions were affecting the distribution and migration patterns of fish.
During El Niño events, changes in ocean temperatures can cause the thermocline to deepen, with some fish moving into deeper waters. Shiyam said this could require Maldivian fishermen to fish at greater depths to adapt to changing conditions.
“Most of all, what we want, what I want, is to find an alternative here. There are marine resources. There is a change in the migration pattern,” he said.
“We’re doing a deep dive. So we know there are resources. The places where the resources are are changing. With that change, we have to change the way we fish.”
Minister Shiyam also referred to fishing practices used by other countries in the Indian Ocean as another possible approach, but did not identify it as a specific alternative for the Maldives.
He said many factors would need to be considered before making changes to the country’s fisheries policy.
