MIFCO hands over Kanduohgiri fish processing island to army

The state-owned fish company, MIFCO, has handed over K. Kanduohgiri, which was operating as a fish processing factory, to the MNDF, the fisheries ministry said on Wednesday.

Fisheries minister Ahmed Shiyam told a news conference that the island was transferred to the MNDF on August 4.

According to Shiyam, Kanduohgiri was mainly devoted to tuna fishing. The development plans are also planned to address the challenges in the tuna fishery, he said.

According to him:

“It has been a huge expenditure. However, the island of Kanduohgiri has not been a desirable solution for the fishermen,” he said.

After handing over the island to the MNDF, a space is being sought from the Hulhumale port for the fish packing operation in the island, he said. He said that with the help of HDC, the port of Hulhumale will be made available to the fishermen. However, he did not give a specific date.

Shiyam added that the land allocated by the Hulhumale port would be a good environment for the tuna fishermen and the costs incurred by the fishermen would be greatly reduced.

MIFCO operates a major fish processing factory in Kanduohgiri. However, the poor condition of the port and the desertification make it difficult for boats to travel to the island. For that reason, the factory remains unused to its fullest potential.

To address the issue, the last government also awarded a MVR 35 million project to MTCC for dredging the Kanduohgiri desert and developing the port. In 2022, the previous government also decided to turn Kanduohgiri into a modern packing facility and develop it as a factory where the fish caught by the fishermen can be packed for export.