Parliament today decided not to debate an emergency motion calling on the government to change its decision on allowing longline fishing.
The emergency motion was proposed by Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir.
Introducing the bill, Mauroof said the government had taken a wrong decision in the name of developing the fishing industry. He added that the decision was not implemented previously due to the adverse impact it could have on the fishing industry.
"The main reason is that it leads to the destruction of marine life and many vulnerable species are also indirect victims of such fishing and the fishing industry has to deal with negative effects in various ways," he said.
There are concerns from fishermen, the tourism industry, environmental and marine life advocacy groups and the public about allowing longline fishing. Highlighting their concerns, Mauroof said the government must consider the adverse effects that could arise from implementing this decision.
Eleven MPs from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted in favour of the emergency motion. They are opposition MDP members. Forty-seven government MPs from the People's National Congress (PNC) voted against the motion.
The government decided to allow longline fishing to meet the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) quota.
Maldives' quota for bigeye tuna is 2,000 tonnes per year. The quota for yellowfin tuna is 47,000 tonnes. The Fisheries Ministry said Maldives has reached the quota in previos years and the average catch is 30,000 tonnes.
