Gov’t opening fisheries businesses has increased the income significantly- Pres.

President Mohamed Nasheed has said that the Fisheries businesses are more open than before and this has resulted in an increase in the amount of income received for the average quantity of 5 tons of fish presently equals the earlier average earnings from 15 tons of fish.

The President said that the household incomes of fishing families have risen significantly.

Delivering the Presidential Address at the first sitting of the People’s Majlis for this year, the President said, during this term, the government will propose amendments to the Fisheries Law. He said that last year, the law covering fisheries for export and trade, manufacture of fish products for export, and the issuance of licenses for aquaculture, was amended, before being implemented. He added that the regulations for catching Yellowfin Tuna were also amended.

“Other government initiatives to facilitate commerce include unrestricted licensing for parties wishing to export raw seafood products starting on 10 December 2010, exemptions on packing materials, and assigning Maldives Customs Service as the issuer of import license. For the convenience of those in the fisheries sector, the responsibility of issuing operating license for the economic zone was handed over to the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. The decision to cease the levy of royalties from parties operating in the E.E.Z was also made last year,” the President said.

The President said that fishermen were assisted both practically and financially last year on the installment of refrigeration systems on fishing vessels. He said that the period allowed for the repayment of loans granted for building fishing boats and installation of engine systems has been increased to alleviate challenges for fishermen. He added that soft loans were granted to fishermen under a specific project to increase the quality of businesses processing fish and fishery products.

Addressing the Peoples’ Majlis, the President said that the framework and management plans for sharks and groupers were also begun and the task of providing compensation for those affected by the proscription of shark- hunting was also carried out.

“To expand and improve the fishing industry further, a project to develop the Skipjack tuna trade was implemented and the minimum price for the purchase of fish was fixed. Furthermore, the agreements established on the trade of Skipjack Tuna were revised and private companies were allowed greater participation in the Skipjack Tuna fishery. In addition, various researches, programmes and projects were implemented to establish modern infrastructure for fisheries in various regions of the country,” he said.

President said that earlier this year in order to facilitate high-quality surveys and research of international standards on the reefs and seas of the Maldives, the official opening of an outpost of the University of Bicocca Milano was held in Faafu Atoll Magoodhoo. He also said that a fisheries research facility is currently being established and developed in Maniyafushi.