Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam announced on Wednesday that the government will issue licenses for longline fishing in February next year as a measure to increase state revenue.

Speaking at a press conference of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), Shiyam said efforts were underway with relevant authorities to allow longline fishing to increase revenue.

"We intend to allow longline fisheries in February. In the meantime, we are working with all the stakeholders and parties with interest in this matter," he said.

The rules will be drafted with public consultation to ensure safety and allow more Maldivians to practice longlining, Shiyam said.

He said the fishing industry generates about USD 92 million and that the income could be increased to USD 120 million with longline fishing.

Noting that bigeye tuna is very expensive in the world market, Shiyam said bigeye tuna catch has declined due to global warming.

"The bigeye tuna is a very expensive type of tuna in the world market. We are don't catch bigeye tuna at all now. Yellowfin tuna catch is also declining day by day with the surface warming and research suggests the fish are staying in deeper areas of the ocean. So yellowfin tuna catch will also increase with longline fishing," he said.

Shiyam added that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's policy is to increase the profits from ocean resources and that work was underway to start marine culture as a separate industry on a commercial scale.

Maldivian fishermen are against allowing longline fishing in the country. A total of 18 organizations suggested recommendations to the rules on longline fisheries. They have also raised concerns and submitted nine key points to the Fisheries Ministry. But it is unclear whether any of their concerns have been considered.

Studies have shown that longlines can unintentionally catch vulnerable species. In 2022, 740,000 kilometers longlines were unintentionally released.