MDP expresses concern over longline fishing permits
Ziyad said the regulation would deprive the people of the large yellowfin tuna fishery and this is something that fishermen should think about.
By
Aishath Maha
The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) has expressed concern over the government's decision to allow longline fishing for large yellowfin tuna fishery.
Speaking at the party’s National Assembly Wednesday evening, Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad said that the regulation, which was formulated and gazetted by the Fisheries Ministry, was dangerous.
The regulation is now open for public comment. The Fisheries Ministry has asked anyone with comments on the rules to send them before the 18th of this month.
Ziyad said that according to the rules, only foreigners can fish for large yellowfin tuna.
“And the most dangerous thing about this is that Maldivians are not allowed to catch sharks even now, according to the rules, it is also allowed only for non-Maldivians,” Ziyad said.
“It is written in the regulations that if the shark caught in the longline lives, take it off, release it, they [the government] will monitor it. There's the size of the lead and hooks to be used when longlining, saying they [the government] will monitor that too. What is dangerous is what the party president [Abdulla Shahid] has said, the sea being sold, it's coming true”.
Ziyad said the regulation would deprive the people of the large yellowfin tuna fishery and this is something that fishermen should think about.
According to the longline fishing rules issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, longline fishing can only be done in a vessel registered in Maldives with a special licence issued by the Ministry in a designated area.
Species that are allowed for longline fishing:
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Bigeye tuna
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Yellowfin tuna
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Billfish
As per the regulation, one foreigner with professional training as master, master fishman or captain and one foreigner as an engineer can operate on longline fishing vessels.
The regulation contains:
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The vessel used for longline fishing must be equipped with a vessel monitoring system and must complete a departure clearance form 48 hours prior to departure
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The vehicle shall be equipped with an electronic monitoring system specified by the Ministry
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If the shark caught in the longline is not dead when taken, it must be released; dead sharks can be used to process
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Thresher sharks are prohibited even if they are caught dead
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A special permit is required to process sharks and sell them abroad
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Shark processing and trade within the country is prohibited
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Foreigners can operate more than 20% of the vessels used for longline fishing, but only on payment of a special quota fee
In June, the fishermen's union Bodu Kanneli Masverinnge Union (BKMU), which works for the welfare of fishermen, had said that if the longlining is allowed in Maldives while the local fishermen are so low, then the local fishing community will go bankrupt.
