Fishing in the north has slowed down due to high prices of oil.
The global oil prices have skyrocketed since the US-Israel attacks against Iran. Oil prices have risen twice in the Maldives with a 100 percent increase causing difficulties to businesses.
The government initially decided to sell oil to fishermen at the market rate. However, they later decided to provide a subsidy after fishermen said they might have to stop fishing.
"In the north, fishermen can get subsidized oil by going to Lhaviyani Felivaru," a fisherman wrote on a social media page.
He complained about the high cost of travelling from Haa Alif atoll to Lhaviyani atoll to get the subsidized oil.
Fishermen get oil at subsidized rate from MIFCO centres. A liter of diesel is sold at MVR 16.54.
There are 12 boats in Ihavandhoo island that are unable to go fishing due to the high costs.
“The fishermen are desperate because they cannot go out to sea at the current oil prices,” said the social media page for Ihavandhoo's fishers.
They called on the government to make sure that subsidized fuel is available from STO's fuel shed in Ihavandhoo.
