The cabinet has decided to permit longline fishing for yellowfin tuna and big-eyed tuna on Maldivian vessels by locals.
Ministers on Tuesday discussed a paper on the issue, submitted by the Ministry of Fisheries, and the decision was reached to help the country’s ailing fishery, President’s Office said.
While on average, Maldives shares 22 per cent of the total skipjack fisheries in the Indian Ocean, the country shares on average only 5 per cent other species of tuna. Therefore, ministers believed Maldives needed to expand fishery of yellowfin and big-eyed tunas as they are of greater value, President’s Office added.
Details and the policies for longline fishing are to be announced by the Fisheries Ministry next week.
President’s Office said ministers also discussed allowing purse seine in Maldives waters.
