Maldives fishermen rally against plan for longline fishing permit
A protester said that fishermen are in debt, being unpaid for so long that some families are suffering hopelessly, a fisherman said.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
Fishermen have requested Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam to meet with the protesters demanding that the price of the purchase of large yellowfin tuna should be between MVR 80 and 100 as promised by the government.
Fishermen also raised their concerns regarding the discussions of allowing of longline fishing, which is an indiscriminate method for fishing, and will harm the pole and line sustainable fishermen of the country.
The Bodu Kanneli Masverinnge Union (BKMU) has been organising protests at the Kanneli Jetty area in Hulhumale this Wednesday afternoon.
The protesters, who are participating in a large number of fishing boats, are expressing their difficulties and concerns.
They are sharing their concerns by installing a sound system on a boat and their demands are:
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The Fisheries Minister meets them and listens to their concerns
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Reduction in price of fuel sold to fishermen at Hulhumale Kanneli Jetty
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Not to issue longlining permits for Kanneli (yellowfin tuna) fishing
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The government promised during the campaign to make the minimum price of yellowfin tuna between MVR 80 and MVR 100
Banners calling to "save the seas from foreign vessels" were also posted on the boats.
A person on behalf of the fishermen said that the price of fuel in the Male area is the same as the price of fuel in Addu. He called for a reduction in the price of fuel sold to fishermen in the Male area, noting that fishermen have to sail a long distance to work and burn a lot of fuel.
Another said that fishermen are in debt, being unpaid for so long that some families are suffering, a fisherman said.
"Some families have built two or three boats. But they have no way to fish," he said.
The reason for this is that the fishermen do not get money and the money they receive is low, he said. Many fishermen have left their boats and gone to government jobs because the government offices now pay better than fishing boats, he said.
The large yellowfin tuna fisheries in Maldives was sustained by the hard work of the factories but now that day is gone, a protester said. He said he wishes to see the factories trying to promote yellowfin tuna fishery in Maldives again.
"We hope the government's fisheries minister will come here to meet the fishermen and discuss their concerns and try to find a solution," said a fisherman who spoke at the fishermen's protest in Hulhumale.
The President of BKMU, Hussain Nasheed, told Atoll Times on Wednesday that he has not yet had the opportunity to meet the Fisheries Minister.
The Fisheries Minister did not answer the phone when contacted for comment on the concerns of the fishermen. Via a message he said he was in a meeting and would call back later.
