Yellowfin tuna stocks in Maldives waters are being depleted by overfishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), fishermen and exporters claim.
“We are going almost bankrupt; so many boats catch so many fish for such a small region,†one industrialist said.
According to experts, there are two possible reasons that might strain the Yellowfin tuna stocks of Maldives, one idea being that trawling is carried out extensively near Maldives waters.
But for such a comparatively large-scale difference to be noticeable in a small area such as the Maldives, it is more likely that overfishing of Yellowfin tuna is taking place closer by, according to other experts.
The EEZ is the common fishing area for both foreign and Maldivian vessels, whereas the inner 75-mile radius is strictly for local fishing vessels.
“We need a solution,†complained a tuna exporter, “because the quality is getting lower. We can no longer fetch a proper price at the market.â€