Yellowfin tuna fishers started protesting at the Hulhumale' yellowfin jetty today against the government's plan to authorise longline fisheries without fulfilling pledges made to fishers.
As the protest took place in Hulhumale', fishers in the south also started protesting over non-payment for fish catch weighed by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).
Fishers protesting in Hulhumale' against long-lining said the government has not been trying to fulfil any pledges made to fishers and that yellowfin tuna fishers were against longline fisheries. Their demand is an immediate end to the government's discussions for authorising companies to use long-lining.
"There is a fear that fishers will become impoverished if long-lining is allowed for yellowfin tuna fisheries. When factories are authorised to use long-lining, the demand for fish caught by fishers will be completely gone. That can only be done after fulfilling pledges," a protesting fisherman said.
Authorising foreign parties to use long-lining for yellowfin tuna fisheries would only benefit businesses with no benefit to fishers, the protesting fishermen said.
"The concerns of yellowfin tuna fishers are truly things that need to be listened to and solved. It is important for as many boats as possible to participate in this protest and to seek an urgent solution through talks," the President of the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) said.
The government cited the need to meet the quota set for the Maldives by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) for its efforts to resume authorising long-lining for yellowfin tuna fisheries.
The Fisheries Ministry has been meeting with the Union of Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen and other stakeholders to discuss authorising long-lining for yellowfin tuna in Maldivian seas.
Protest by fishermen in Gaaf Dhaal Madaveli. -- Photo: Madaveli fishers
A fisherman at the protest outside the Gaaf Dhaal Madaveli island council over the failure to pay fishers since the end of Ramadan told Adhadhu that major difficulties have been faced due to the delay in clearing outstanding payments. He called on the government to settle the dues before Eid.
"Payments haven't been deposited for us since the end of the six fasting days after Ramadan. We have asked the government many times to deposit the money. We have expressed concern on social media. Eventually, we started protesting because there has been no solution," a fisherman who spoke from Madaveli said.
