Angry fishers have kicked out a Fisheries Ministry delegation from Gaaf Alif Dhevvadhoo island.

A fisherman told Ahdadhu that the six-member delegation wanted to provide information about an RO cold storage plant.

"The team arrived on the island discreetly while we were at noon prayer. But the fishermen came and kicked them out of the island. They have left now," he said.

He said the fishermen were frustrated about non-payment for fish purchased by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).

The government pledged to pay fishermen within two weeks of purchasing fish.

"We haven't been paid for the fish we caught. We have five pending bills. It's only about MVR 150,000," the fisherman said.

The Fisheries Ministry team tried to visit Dhevvadhoo on Friday, but protesting fishermen insisted they leave.

Last week, fishermen in Gaaf Alif Dhaandhoo also prevented the team from visiting their island.

Earlier, fishermen had protested against the non-payment and the government was pressured to release all the money at once.

The government then said it would deposit the money within two weeks, but the money has not been released for two months now, the fishermen said.