President calls to encourage fisheries management ideas

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that the scale of fisheries in the Maldives needs to be broadened, and called to encourage management ideas for the fisheries sector in the country.

The President made this remark while speaking at the opening ceremony of the national forum on fisheries this evening, which is part of the ongoing programs in Ga. Vilingili to celebrate Fishermen’s Day.

The forum was held to understand the existing fisheries conditions, and to exchange ideas about how the future of fisheries can be shaped in the Maldives.

The President said that the price of fuel is a significant determinant of the price of fish, and that one of the biggest challenges faced by the fisheries sector today is increasing fuel prices.

He stressed the importance of using modern technology to facilitate less expensive methods for fishermen to go fishing.

In this regard, he noted that the Maldives lacks fisheries companies in which several groups in the sector cooperate with one another. He said that given the high fuel prices, companies that manage several fishing vessels would find it easier to settle expenses such as those for fuel.

The President highlighted that fisheries in the Maldives has progressed greatly over the past fifty years, and said that today, the fisheries sector is successful in many ways through the employment of modern technology and equipment in the fishing process.

He said that the award of the Marine Stewardship Certificate to Maldives is a great achievement for the fisheries sector, and that due gratitude for this goes to fishermen and fish exporters in the country.

After the ceremony to inaugurate the national forum on fisheries, the President visited the Trade Fair held on the occasion of Fishermen’s Day in Vilingili.