President Promises Visible Progress on Fishing Sector in Two Years

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said his administration’s numerous initiatives to support the fishing community will be completed in these two years and that we will start seeing tangible benefits soon.

Speaking during the fourth episode of Rayythunaa Eku podcast, meaning With the Citizens, President Muizzu outlined the projects aimed at enhancing the value of fish and fish products.

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Speaking during the fourth episode of the Rayyithunnaa Eku podcast, President Dr Muizzu outlined several strategic projects aimed at enhancing the value chain of fish and fish products. According to the President’s Office, a major development in the fisheries sector is the planned expansion of skipjack tuna storage capacity from the current 9,500 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes. At the same time, processing capacity will rise significantly from 115 tonnes to 365 tonnes. President Muizzu assured that these projects are fully funded and will move forward without disruption.

Addressing long-standing concerns in the fishing community, particularly reliable access to fuel and ice, the President said the government is actively improving infrastructure and allocating resources to tackle these issues. He stressed that his Administration engages directly with fishermen to shape its policies. By the end of the year, each atoll will have designated islands offering fuel at State Trading Organisation (STO) rates. In parallel, the construction of ice plants, cold storage facilities, and processing centres is progressing rapidly across various islands. Highlighting the importance of Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) systems for the industry’s future, the President announced new loan schemes to support their wider adoption.

To ensure more sustainable financial arrangements for fishermen, the government has introduced dependable payment mechanisms. The President said that fulfilling his pledge to guarantee payments within 48 hours has helped attract young Maldivians back to the fishing industry. Since the last Fishermen’s Day, the government has disbursed MVR 470 million in payments without interruption, supporting the Administration’s aim of fully Maldivian-crewed fishing vessels.

President Muizzu also reported that the national fishermen’s registry now includes 95 percent of all fishing vessels. He said the registry plays a strategic role in promoting financial inclusion by helping institutions recognise fishing as a viable source of income.

In further developments, the Administration has deployed 18 new fish aggregating devices (FADs) and restored 21 damaged units. To strengthen maritime safety, it has trained 56 rescue divers, assigning one to each of 56 vessels.