Fishermen’s Protest Halts Operations at Addu Fisheries Complex

Operations at the Addu Fisheries Complex (AFC) have been temporarily suspended following protests by fishermen over unpaid dues, which have persisted since Friday.

According to a statement from Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) media officer, the protest led to concerns that AFC employees might withdraw from the site by 16:00 pm, potentially allowing control to revert to the protesting boat owners and fishermen.

advertisement

Police presence has been noted in the protest area, although authorities have indicated a stance of non-interference with the demonstrators.

The AFC’s ability to function has been significantly disrupted by the protest, prompting a temporary suspension of operations. A spokesperson from MIFCO expressed uncertainty regarding when normal operations would resume.

Reportedly, fishermen entered the AFC employees’ canteen during its closure yesterday. Additionally, due to a power cut, foreign employees were compelled to sleep outdoors on blankets, lacking access to basic amenities such as food and toilet facilities.

MIFCO has stated that the AFC accommodates around 100 employees, including foreign workers, and confirmed demands from the protesting fishermen to sever access to the accommodation, administration building, and cafeteria until outstanding payments are made.

Since yesterday afternoon, access to the accommodation, administration building, mosque, and cafeteria has been restricted, according to MIFCO.

In response to the situation, MIFCO has urged protesters to maintain peace and avoid damaging company property or impacting the welfare of its employees. The company reiterated its commitment to addressing the issue in cooperation with relevant authorities to safeguard employee dignity and essential needs.

Regarding outstanding payments, MIFCO acknowledged releasing MVR 46 million out of over MVR 80 million owed to fishermen before Eid holidays, following protests in the island. Efforts are reportedly ongoing to settle the remaining amount promptly.

While the exact total owed to fishermen has not been disclosed, MIFCO underscored ongoing efforts to manage outstanding dues, pointing out that significant disbursements exceeding MVR 850 million have been made to fishermen during the current administration’s first six months.

MIFCO stated that from 9th May to today, a period of one month and 14 days, MVR 52.6 million has been paid to fishermen, countering media reports that claim there are two or three months of pending payments.

MIFCO also revealed that current fishing activity is very low, leading to a decrease in the rates at which the fish are weighed.