Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has said that the fish processing capacity in the Maldives is set to increase more than nine times over the next three years. The Minister shared this development during an exclusive interview with PSM News. The government is implementing several initiatives to expand the country’s fish storage and processing capabilities, with a special focus on increasing fish processing capacity. Minister Shiyam explained that the fish processing capacity will rise from 35 tonnes to 300 tonnes within the first three years of the first phase. The expansion will include facilities in the southern atolls, Nilandhoo, and Felivaru, with each being upgraded to handle 100 tonnes. The government is also working to ease challenges faced by fishermen, particularly in accessing fish and obtaining ice. To address this, the establishment of 11 ice plants has already begun, with three ice plants set to be operational this year. Another five will be funded by Saudi Arabia, and three additional plants will be included in the national budget. Additionally, the government is prioritizing the provision of modern facilities to support fishermen. A special loan facility has been introduced for the installation of Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) systems on fishing boats, with more than 35 fishermen expected to benefit from these loans this year.
