State fisheries enterprise MIFCO disbursed a net total of MVR 29.98 million to local fishermen in August 2026, with skipjack tuna (kalhubilamas) accounting for more than 98 percent of both catch volume and net payouts.
Under MIFCO's payment policy, catches are weighed and bills are settled within 48 hours of landing, with disbursements released after deducting vessel credit expenses such as diesel, ice, and other services. The monthly disclosure reflects these final payouts deposited directly to vessel accounts.
According to the official figures released by the company, MIFCO purchased 1,464.0 metric tons of skipjack tuna across 535 fishing vessels during the month. Following credit deductions, the company released MVR 29,454,815.00 in net payments for skipjack catches.
The remainder of the monthly intake consisted of small-grade yellowfin tuna landings. MIFCO weighed in 13.3 metric tons of yellowfin under 10 kilograms from six vessels, releasing MVR 284,455.00, alongside 10.9 metric tons of yellowfin under 15 kilograms from 14 vessels, which saw MVR 247,280.00 disbursed post-deduction.
Across all categories, MIFCO weighed a total of 1,488.30 metric tons of tuna and disbursed MVR 29,986,550.00 to 535 vessels throughout August, highlighting the dominant financial contribution of the pole-and-line skipjack fleet to fishers' net take-home earnings.
