Expatriate fishermen allowed on local vessels
The amendment provides for the number of foreigners that can be employed on boats of different sizes.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The fisheries regulations have been amended on Wednesday to increase the number of foreigners who can be taken on large fishing boats to eight, and to allow expatriates to actively fish as crew on local vessels. As the regulation stood before, while a boat of any size could carry a maximum of two foreigners, they were not allowed to actively fish.
The fisheries ministry on Wednesday amended the 'Regulations on The Planning and Management of Marine Fisheries' and published it in the gazette.
The main change in the amendment is the allowance of foreigners to fish on local fishing vessels as part of the crew and the change in the number of foreigners that can be brought in on fishing boats according to different sizes. The amendment also includes classification of fishing vessels in registration and the number of licence fees charged for these categories.
Section 18(a) of the regulations earlier prohibited foreigners from engaging in direct fishing on any fishing vessel. However, there is no bar on a maximum of two foreigners hired for activities such as maintaining security of the vessel and cooking for the crew.
The amendments were made on:
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Removal of clause prohibiting foreigners from engaging in direct fishing
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With this, expatriates will now be allowed to fish in the same vessel as a crewman
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The amendment provides for the number of foreigners that can be employed on boats of different sizes
Here's a look at the changes:
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Vehicles smaller than 15 metres – maximum of four foreigners
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24-15 metre vehicles – maximum of six foreigners
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Vehicles larger than 24 metres – maximum of eight foreigners
Despite the regulation, many fishing boats in the country carry a large number of foreigners. Apart from being a ship's cook, many migrant workers are also actively engaged in fishing.
Changes in the categories of fishing boats
As per the earlier rule, fishing boats were registered in two categories:
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Vessels smaller than 15 metres - MVR 500 for registration fee
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Vessels larger than 15 metres – MVR 1,500 for registration fee
The subsequent amendments included three categories:
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Vessels smaller than 15 metres - MVR 500 for registration fee
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20-15 metre vessels – MVR 1,000 for registration fee
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From 20 metres to big vehicles – MVR 1,500 for registration fee.
