The government has acceded to demands made by protesting fishermen and reduced the price of diesel sold to fishing boats, bringing it down to the same rate as petrol sheds on land.
The Fisheries Ministry said in a post on X after midnight that the price of diesel sold to fishers in Hulhumale' has been brought in line with the price at sheds in order to fulfil pledges made to fishers.
Diesel was previously sold to fishers for MVR 14.53 per litre. With the government's decisions, diesel will now be sold for MVR 13.92 per liter to fishing boats as well.
The government's decision to reduce fuel prices for fishers came after the crew of 35 boats protested in the Male' harbour yesterday against outstanding payments and plans to authorise longline fisheries.
The protest that took place since Wednesday morning - which also demanded the purchase of yellowfin tuna by the state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) as pledged by the government - was called off at 1 am on Thursday when the fuel price was reduced.
Speaking about the government's decision, Hussain Nasheed, President of the Union of Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen, said the fuel price reduction was the only possible immediate action in response to the demands. Fishers would benefit significantly from the price reduction, he said.
"When you consider the whole trip, the biggest expense is oil. For every trip, 20 or 30 barrels of oil will be spent. So when fishermen also get to buy oil at the same price as on land, the benefits will increase for fishermen," Nasheed said.
Nasheed also said that the government has agreed to negotiate about the demands made by fishers at yesterday's protest.
"Long-lining [for yellowfin tuna fisheries] has not been authorised yet. It's being discussed," Nasheed 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. A decision will be made after seeking the views of all parties, the Fisheries Ministry said.
Addressing participants of yesterday's protest, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam said that MIFCO will not be able to start buying yellowfin tuna this year due to the state of the company and the country despite the government's pledge.
The government was discussing authorising longline fisheries as part of efforts to explore all avenues for raising revenue due to weakened state finances, Shiyam said. Despite issuing permits, the government will not allow long-lining to be practiced as it had been done before, Shiyam assured.
