Protesting fishermen have called on President Mohamed Muizzu and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam to resign if they can't fulfill promises.
Fishermen began protesting on boats in the lagoon of Male' on national Fishermen's Days celebrated on December 10 every year.
“Muizzu should resign now and Shiyam should resign and go home. They are unable to do this. I do not believe that they can do this in the coming days. They are lying to us,” fisherman Musthafa from Zoom boat said at a press conference.
Vice President of the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) of yellow fin tuna fishers, Imran Mohamed accused Shiyam of trying to destroy the fishery.
“The minister is still trying to stop all these fish fishing boats and go to long line fishery. He has told us that he will do it this way,” Imran said.
Imran said the foreign fishers were arrested to intimidate the protesters.
"These fishermen are courageous. They are at sea all day and night in the rain and in the sun," he stated.
"We are here peacefully and we will not stop. We will continue our protest right here."
The fishermen's protest was organized by BKMU. Forty nine boats have been protesting near Male' since Wednesday.
They made three demands to the government.
- Government should resume purchasing yellow fin tuna
- Fix the price between MVR 80 and 100
- Provide oil and ice at base rates
"We are calling on the government to fulfill the promises made to fishermen,” said Hussein Nasheed, the President of Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union.
Minister Shiyam said the government is trying to fulfill its promises to the fishermen. He has repeated this statement every time fishermen decide to protest.
