By Atuna
The Maldivian government has confirmed through its president, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, its plans to hold its first Seafood Fair during fishermen’s day ceremony of 2010.
Maldives has been celebrating the 10th December every year as their fishermen’s day for years at a national level confirming the importance of the fisheries industry to the national development and its people.
The president stated that the Maldivian fisheries sector and the economy as whole were badly affected during the past year. He also said that in the Maldives fish catches have been declining for the fifth consecutive year and that the rise in fuel prices in 2008 had worsened the situation, meaning that a lot of hard work will be needed to recover from the crisis.
Mr. Nasheed noted that there were many challenges in developing the fisheries sector in the Maldives and that now it is needed to look for other resources from the ocean. He further spoke on the importance of finding investments, expertise to begin such projects.
Mr. Ahmed Bunyamin, president of the Maldives Seafood Processors and Exporters Association (MSPEA) revealed that all the Processors and the Exporters are very excited that the government has committed to hold the first Seafood fair in the Maldives: “There is no other place better than the Maldives to hold a seafood Fair as we have practiced the most sustainable fishing method for centuries – and that’s what today consumers are asking forâ€. The MSPEA is committed to make this event a very successful one and urge buyers around the globe to come and see what Maldives has to offer.
The Maldives is probably one of the few nations in the world that is using only ‘Pole and Line’ fishing. By legislation the government does not allow any other methods of fisheries in the Maldivian waters for centuries. Despites low catch since 2006 the Maldivian fishermen and the fisheries industry are still supporting that they should continue only the most sustainable fisheries.
Fisheries was a very important sector for many centuries with fishing as the main occupation of the locals. Today, fisheries contribute over 8% to the GDP and engage 20% of the country’s work force and represents 74% of the country’s export commodities. It is also the second- largest foreign exchange earner after tourism.
Maldives tuna fish is exported to the EU and the USA but also to Asian markets. For raw material – whole round frozen skipjack - the Thai canning industry has been the main destination; whereas for processed and fresh product Europe was the main market. EU is the major destination for added value tuna products from the Maldives. The island nation provide in several different tuna forms like canned, pouch, frozen pre-cooked loins, frozen raw loins, frozen whole round and fresh whole round.
Maldives, an archipelago island nation, is the smallest Asian country in terms of the population with 300 thousand people. The country is an archipelago of nearly 1.200 coral islands grouped into 19 widely dispersed atolls covering an area of nearly 90.000 km2 in the center of the Indian Ocean.