Can't cede to Mauritius for sustainable fisheries sake: Nasheed

Maldives speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday called on the government to not forgo any territory of Maldives to Mauritius in the sea demarcation dispute if Maldives wishes to continue sustainable fishing activity in the Indian Ocean.

He made the call as the first president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).

The CVF is a group of 58 countries most affected by climate change. Nasheed is currently in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend the COP27, a major environmental summit.

In a statement, Nasheed said that it is a matter of grave concern that the stock of sea fish in the Indian Ocean is declining due to over fishing.

"The only areas in the Indian Ocean that are completely protected by this type of [industrial] fishing are the Maldives and Chagos area," the statement said.

Nasheed also welcomed UK's declaration of the coastal area as a protected area.

He called on Britain to discuss with the Maldives how to maintain Chagos islands as a protected area in this time when Mauritius is trying to relinquish the territory from British control.

"As this happens, it is important that all countries [in the Indian Ocean], including the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and India, agree to uphold the protection of the territory of Chagos," Nasheed said.

"It is very important that the government of Maldives does not leave any sea territory to industrial fishermen who engage in harmful fishing practices such as trawling".

While Maldives is careful to not conduct indiscriminate fishing and uses the traditional pole and line method for fishing, Mauritius is a large-scale fishing nation, fishing extensively and exporting to major European countries.

Fishermen in the south have also expressed concern that if the issue of sea demarcation is settled in favour of Mauritius, it will have a negative impact on local fisheries.