Two resolutions regarding fishing accepted into parliament

Two resolutions regarding fishing have been accepted into the parliament during this Wednesday's session.

In total five resolutions regarding fishing has been submitted to the parliament and two of those resolutions were voted on this Wednesday. The five resolutions submitted to the government are part of this administration's policy on fishing and would be referred to when the fishing laws are amended.

The first resolution that was approved was by Ungoofaaru MP Ismail Ahmed that would allow foreign boats to enter into Maldivian territories to buy fish from Maldivian fishermen and was approved by 68 votes for and just two against. There had been concerns by the opposition that this would allow foreign fishing boats to conduct illegal activities such as trawling in Maldivian waters and would adversely affect the fishing industry. The Fisheries Minister stated in a parliament committee meeting that these concerns would be taken into consideration when enacting and implementing the new regulations.

The second resolution that was approved by the parliament this Wednesday was submitted by Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan calling for the establishment of neighborhood fish factories on every island that would be operated by the residents and the island council. The resolution was approved with the support of 68 MPs.

The resolution proposed to take four main measures, they are:

1)    Identify the machinery, technology, and equipment that will be needed to establish neighborhood fish plants and factories.

2)    Set out ways to lease lands for the factories

3)    Ways in which the island or city council can be involved in the operations of the factory

4)    Providing the opportunity to open and establish these factories that would buy and process fish from Maldivian fishermen.

Five resolutions submitted to parliament regarding fishing, including the ones passed on Wednesday are:

1) Resolution to stop mass net fishing and trawling in the Indian Ocean by Kanditheemu MP Abdullah Shaheem Abdul Hakeem.

2) Resolution on allowing foreign boats to buy fish from Maldivian fishermen by Dhuvaafaru MP Ismail Ahmed.

3) Resolution to highlight areas where Maldivian boats fish and establish offshore platforms by Mid-Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed.

4) Resolution to stop foreign boats from fishing in Maldivian waters by Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Saleem.

5) Resolution to establish neighborhood fish factory in collaboration with the residents and island councils by Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan.

Three of these resolutions including the two passed today are now in the committee discussion stages. The third resolution in the committee stage is the resolution by Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Saleem to stop foreign boats from fishing in Maldivian waters.