Ministry of Fisheries to Meet Bodu Kanneli Fishermen Following Protest

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has agreed to meet representatives of the fishermen following an ongoing protest at sea, fishermen involved in the demonstration have said.

Talking to MV+, some fishermen involved in the protest said that the ministry informed them that a meeting would take place tomorrow to discuss the fishermen’s demands, after two days of sustained protest at sea near Male’. The protests began on Fishermen’s day last Wednesday led by the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU). 

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Despite the planned meeting, they are calling on President Mohamed Muizzu to honour pledges made during his presidential campaign to protect fishermen’s livelihoods and address long-standing grievances in the fisheries sector. The fishermen’s core demands include the commencement of yellowfin tuna purchases by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), the introduction of a floor price between MVR 80 and MVR 100 per kilogram, and the provision of fuel at base rates alongside reliable access to ice.

In addition to these demands, the union has reiterated its call for the release of expatriate workers arrested during what they describe as a peaceful protest. Fishermen said the continued detention of the expatriates has further fuelled frustration among those participating in the demonstration.

The fishermen said they will assess the outcome of the meeting with the ministry but warned that they are prepared to sustain the protest if their concerns remain unaddressed.