MIFCO Announces Operational Changes to Improve Fishing Efficiency

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) has announced changes to its vessel operations aimed at alleviating some of the challenges faced by fishermen.

According to MIFCO, four of its RSW 27.5-tonne vessels—Randhi 23, 24, 25, and 26—will now operate from Felivaru instead of Kooddoo. Additionally, Jazeera-102, which was previously based in Felivaru, will be relocated to the Kooddoo site. The Jazeera-102 has a capacity to catch over 100 tonnes of fish per day.

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Ahmed Zahir, MIFCO’s General Manager of Operations, elaborated on the reasons for the change. “Felivaru is a canning factory, and our primary objective is to ensure fresh fish are stored in the vessels. By relocating these four vessels to more ports, we aim to boost the confidence of fishermen in the north,” Zahir explained.

He added that during the peak fishing season in the south, smaller Randhi series boats often struggle to secure significant catches. The operational shift is expected to reduce the waiting times for fishing boats during this period.

Zahir also expressed hope that the changes would increase interest in fishing among the youth and the general public, potentially attracting more people to the industry.

MIFCO’s fleet has recently been expanded with the addition of Jazeera-106 and Jazeera-105, both of which are involved in fish procurement. The company also announced that Jazeera-104 will soon be operational, with final preparations currently underway at the port of Malé. MIFCO anticipates that its fleet will be capable of freezing an additional 150 tonnes of fish by the start of the upcoming fishing season.

Currently, MIFCO has 13 vessels engaged in fishing operations and five vessels dedicated to transporting fish. The company also operates one carrier vessel.