Maldives Expands Fisheries Infrastructure Ahead Of Peak Season

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), in collaboration with the national government, is undertaking a wide-ranging expansion of fisheries infrastructure as the country prepares for the start of its peak fishing season in September.

The initiative aims to ease longstanding logistical challenges faced by fishermen and improve the international market value of Maldivian fish exports. A central focus of the effort is to triple the country’s cold storage capacity to 25,000 metric tonnes. Officials have stressed that the expansion is vital to achieving better export prices and reducing the proportion of raw fish sold abroad. At present, around 65 percent of the national catch is exported without processing.

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MIFCO has outlined several measures to boost operational readiness across its fisheries centres. At the Kooddoo Fisheries Complex, work is underway to repair harbour roads and upgrade the production facility, while the company’s fish-purchasing vessels are undergoing full mechanical overhauls to ensure engines and onboard machinery are in working order.

Drawing on last year’s catch data, MIFCO is also preparing to set up purchasing operations in regions projected to yield the highest volumes, including Raa Atoll and Baa Atoll. In a significant logistical adjustment, the company plans to begin exporting fish directly from Addu Atoll, replacing the current practice of transferring stock to Huvadhu Atoll for shipment. Value addition activities are also expected to commence in Addu, which MIFCO anticipates will support Kooddoo’s operations and reduce the need for double container handling.