17 vessels register for Maldives Tuna Race so far

The Fishermen's Lobby has announced that 17 vessels have registered so far for the "Maldives Tuna Race 2025".

To mark the Fishermen's Lobby's anniversary and Fishermen's Day, the association opened the opportunity to participate in the "Maldives Tuna Race 2025", dedicated to pole-and-line fishing vessels in the Maldives, on the 10th of this month. While the registration for the race is open until the 10th of next month, the Fishermen's Lobby stated that 17 vessels have registered as of today.

President of the Fishermen's Lobby, Shafga Shafeeg (Keyolhagedhiye), said that looking at the vessels registered so far, the highest number of vessels have registered from Huvadhoo Atoll.

"It has been one week today since registration for the race opened. There is a lot of support for the race from Huvadhoo Atoll. The highest number of vessels registered so far is also from Huvadhoo Atoll. Then there is also great support from L Atoll and Addu City. Among the vessels registered so far, there are vessels belonging to HA, Sh, K, Dh, L, GA, GDh Atolls and Addu City. Our target is to have 50 vessels participate in this race, representing all atolls of the Maldives," Shafga said.

"Maldives Tuna Race 2025" is a race organized by the Fishermen's Lobby with the aim of fostering friendship among the pole-and-line fishing community, strengthening ties and creating a spirit of unity, generating interest among youth in pole-and-line fishing, promoting pole-and-line fishing, and increasing public love for this industry.

Scheduled to be held from December 5-6, with participating vessels given 24 hours to fish, the opportunity to participate in this race is given to pole-and-line fishing vessels that hold a fishing license issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and are registered in the national fishermen's registry. As this fishing race is held at MIFCO's Kooddoo Fisheries Complex (KFC), the Fishermen's Lobby has stated that the winners of the race will be determined by the weight of the fish, in accordance with the current commercial procedure by which pole-and-line fishermen weigh their catch.

"Maldives Tuna Race 2025" is being held with large cash prizes. While 100,000 Rufiyaa has been decided for the first place, 50,000 Rufiyaa for the second place, and 25,000 Rufiyaa for the third place, it has also been decided to give a prize of 5,000 Rufiyaa to the vessel that finishes the race fastest.

The deadline for registration in this fishing race is 16:00 on Thursday, July 10. Vessels wishing to participate in the race can submit the form to the Lobby's office or via email after filling out the designated form for the race.