Fishermen refuse to back down until demands met as protest enters second day

Yellowfin tuna fishermen vowed on Thursday to continue their protest until the government meets their demands, as their demonstration entered a second day.

The protest, organized by the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) - a trade union of yellowfin tuna fishermen – began at 09:00 am Wednesday from the Hulhumale’ jetty, before setting sights on Male’ City.

They have accused the government of failing on its promise to purchase and market yellowfin tuna, and secure a steady revenue stream for fishermen.

Dozens of boats remain gathered in the waters off the No. 1 Jetty in Male’, as the Coast Guard and police keep a close watch.

A member of BKMU’s executive committee told Sun on Thursday morning that they plan on continuing the protest until the government agrees to meet their demands.

Speaking to RaajjeTV on Wednesday, Maroof Zakir, the secretary-general of BKMU and a member of Parliament, accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration of failing to address the concerns of yellowfin tuna fishermen despite already serving two years in office.

“The government is always promising to resolve challenges facing fishermen. But they have yet to even start these efforts, to date. Fishermen do not believe its anywhere close to starting either,” he said.

Mauroof, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), insists that the protest isn’t political.

He said that things have been getting worse for yellowfin tuna fishermen, and the government needs to deliver the pledges it made during the 2023 presidential campaign.

Mauroof also accused the police of threatening expatriates who work on fishing boats, warning them against joining in on the protest.

“The police have threatened and warned us. These boats have expatriates hired through valid quotas. They live on these boats. They are going to remain on these boats no matter where these boats head, because this is their home,” said Mauroof.

The BKMU said that despite the warning, the police have yet to make any arrests.

The BKMU has said that they are protesting over the failure to deliver three pledges written in President Muizzu’s manifesto. They are:

• Having Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) begin purchase of yellowfin tuna.
• Setting the floor price for yellowfin tuna to MVR 80 – MVR 100 per kilo.
• Supplying fuel to fishermen at the base rate and improving access to ice

The union said that yellowfin tuna fishermen are deeply disillusioned over the failure to deliver these pledges.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam acknowledged the concerns of yellowfin tuna fishermen.

He said that their concern stems from delays in payments by companies that purchase yellowfin tuna, and the downward spiral in the market price of tuna during good fishing spells.

Shiyam said that the fishermen have asked the government to intervene in this, expand its role in the yellowfin tuna trade, and deliver the government’s pledges as soon as possible.

He said that the government was working on delivering its pledges, and will commence construction of a yellowfin tuna processing plant in Hulhumale’ in January.