President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the country’s fishing community, promising concrete steps to address long-standing concerns raised by fishermen across the Maldives.
The President made these remarks during a meeting with a group of fishermen at the President’s Office on Tuesday morning – the third such engagement since he assumed office. The meeting focused on several pressing issues affecting the sector, which remains a critical part of the Maldivian economy and way of life.
Fishermen at the meeting called for urgent clarity on the Government’s promise to increase the fish purchase price to MVR 20 per kilogramme. They also expressed concern over the declining baitfish population, though they acknowledged that Vaavu Atoll continues to offer favourable conditions for baitfishing.
Additional concerns included challenges in accessing loans from the Bank of Maldives (BML), difficulties in obtaining fishing licences, and the need to modernise weighing systems used by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO). Fishermen further highlighted inconsistencies in fish weighing practices across various regions.
While raising these concerns, participants also acknowledged steps already taken by the Government to improve the sector but emphasised the need for continued progress.
In response, President Dr Muizzu assured the fishermen that the fish purchase price would be raised once the 48-hour payment system is fully stabilised. He also pledged to strengthen collaboration with the fishing community to resolve ongoing challenges.
On the issue of loan accessibility, the President said the Government would instruct BML to streamline the loan application process, including reducing documentation requirements to make financing more accessible to fishermen.
He added that ongoing land reclamation works in Vaavu Atoll would continue in consultation with local fishing communities to ensure their concerns are taken into account.
President Muizzu also gave updates on key policy initiatives, including plans to standardise fuel prices across all atolls to match those set by the State Trading Organisation (STO). This move is expected to be completed by March 2026. In addition, MIFCO is preparing to commence direct fuel sales.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the sector, President Muizzu said the Government would continue to work closely with fishermen to support the sustainable development of the fishing industry – one of the country’s most vital economic lifelines.
