9,973 fishermen were registered by end of 2012, says Department of National Planning

The Department of National Planning has said in its Statistical Yearbook 2013, released today, that there were 9,973 fishermen registered in the country at the end of 2012.

The book states that the most number of fishermen were registered in Laamu Atoll.

Last year, Maldivian fishermen caught 120,001 metric tons of fish, a decrease of 0.7 percent compared with 120,800 in 2011.

The country’s catch has been reducing since 2008, says the report.

A significant election pledge of the present government was to ensure that fishermen earn a monthly salary of MVR 10,000 regardless of the amount of fish they catch.

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Mohamed Shainy said that this will be done under an insurance scheme, whereby fishermen will be required to pay a monthly premium.

He said that the premium amount has not yet been decided, and that the insurance scheme will cover the difference during the months the fishermen earn less than MVR 10,000.