Even with these concerns being highlighted across the Maldives, the cabinet went ahead and decided to allow longline fishing - this reform included allowing longline fishing for big-eyed and yellowfin tuna under a special permit.
Maldives Business Review
In August of 2024, the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans Resources published a public consultation on the proposed longline fishing regulation. This regulation came after the President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu pledged to diversify the economy and maximize the benefits derived from the fishing industry. Although this reform was pitched as the Maldivian fishing vessels constantly remained below the prescribed limits for the allocated quotas for the tuna species by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), longline fishing is something that locals have constantly voiced their concerns against - as allowing longline fishing into the sustainable fishing sector of Maldives is set to do more damage than good.
Although the ministry highlighted several regulations that will be put into place to negate the negative effects of longline fishing, a petition was soon put up by the Maldives Ocean Alliances and the Yellowfin Tuna Fisheries Union. In their petition, the unions highlighted several concerns including the possibilities of overfishing, possible safety risks and human rights violations, increased chances of bycatch, as well as the potential depletion of shark, whale shark, turtle and manta rays which will also affect the tourism industry of the Maldives.
Even with these concerns being highlighted across the Maldives, the cabinet went ahead and decided to allow longline fishing - this reform included allowing longline fishing for big-eyed and yellowfin tuna under a special permit. With this, there was a public outcry, reminding the Government and officials of the negative implications that longline fishing has brought in the past - resulting in President Dr Mohamed Muizzu deciding against allowing longline fishing in the country.
According to a statement which was issued by the President's Office, President Dr Muizzu reached this decision following the concerns raised by ‘Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union’ as well as other stakeholders. With this, the president has also decided to hold meetings with the concerned parties to host the necessary discussions regarding this matter.
