MP Mauroof and two others detained from fishermen’s protest

Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir was taken into police custody on Thursday, as the police storm the fishing boats involved in a protest off the Maldivian capital that is now in its 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 heading to 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.

The police began raiding the fishing boats just before noon on Thursday. The police initially said the raids targeted expatriates involved in the protest, but declined to confirm any arrests.

However, a video shared by the BKMU show the police take at least three expatriates into custody from a boat and move them to a police speedboat.

In a subsequent statement less than an hour later, the police said they had seized two boats and took three people into custody.

The police said the three were taken into custody “on suspicion of failing to obey police orders and obstructing the police from performing their duty.”

The police confirmed the identity of one of the detainees as Maroof, the secretary-general of BKMU and a parliamentarian from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

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.

They have vowed to continue the protest until the government meets their demands.

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.