The Maldives should consider allowing longline fishing in Maldivian waters in order to meet the quota for fishing in the Indian Ocean, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has said.

The limits for fishing in the Indian Ocean were determined by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) based on scientific research. The quotas were set under a resolution adopted by the organization in 2021.

“Looking at the quota we got, it would be good to catch more yellowfin tuna by expanding our fleet or increasing the numbers of fishers as well. If we don’t, our quota will go down,” Shiyam said in Adhadhu’s “Etherefuh” program.

A quota of 47,517 metric tons of yellowfin tuna was set for the Maldives in 2022. It was the largest quota after the European Union (EU). IOTC’s quotas for 2023 and 2024 are not publicly available.

Yellowfin tuna exports from Maldives (metric tons)

• 2013 - 45,626 tons
• 2014 - 49,101 tons
• 2015 - 51,472 tons
• 2016 - 53,705 tons
• 2017 - 49,377 tons
• 2018 - 47,217 tons
• 2019 - 44,424 tons
• 2020 - 42,705 tons
• 2021 - 24,548 tons

“We need to find ways to catch in addition to the quota available to us now. I believe we should consider somewhat opening up long line fishing,” Shiyam said.

According to statistics published by Customs, the Maldives exported 28,803 tons of yellowfin tuna in 2022, which was 61 percent of the quota set for the Maldives that year. The Maldives had the opportunity to catch the remaining 18,392 tons that year. But the Maldives was unable to reach the quota ostensibly due to the lack of enough fishers in the country.

When Shiyam said a high income could be earned from longline fisheries, Adhadhu asked whether foreign vessels would also be allowed to operate in the country. “If it could be done through a strong and sound mechanism, it is something that could increase fisheries income,” he said.

Despite concern over yellowfin tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean, five IOTC member states opposed limiting fish catch. They were Oman, India, Iran, Madagascar and Indonesia.

History of long-lining in the Maldives

The decision to allow long-lining for yellowfin tuna in Maldivian waters was first made in March 2010 during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s government. But the issuance of licenses began in 2012.

Regulations on longline fisheries for yellowfin tuna within 100 to 200 miles of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were enacted in November 2014. Only Maldivian companies were licensed under the regulations.

However, the regulations allowed 90 percent of crew member of such vessels to be foreigners. As such, only one Maldivian worked on most boats. Consequently, several violations of laws and regulations occurred in Maldivian seas, officials who oversaw the fisheries sector said during various meetings.

The regulations authorized the Fisheries Ministry to set the quota for fish catch. In 2017, MVR 310 million was earned from 28 vessels licensed for long-lining in addition to MVR 1.9 million from the sale of licenses.

After the EU’s Commission of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries expressed concern about illegal activities in long-lining operations and warned of a complete ban on Maldivian fish exports, the government discontinued issuing licenses for long-lining vessels in July 2019.

Despite training programs conducted by successive governments to familiarize people with longline fisheries, very few Maldivians took up the fishing method.