The Maldives has taken center stage at the 19th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition (TUNA 2026), launching a major push to promote its environmentally friendly fishing methods to global markets. The high-profile three-day event kicked off today at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok.
A Call for International Recognition
State Minister Mohamed Muhthalib officially addressed global industry leaders during the opening ceremony. In his remarks, Muhthalib strongly advocated for international markets to formally recognize the environmental integrity, fisher discipline, and immense social value of the Maldives' traditional pole-and-line fishery.
"Our traditional one-by-one fishery is not just an industry, it is a way of life that protects our oceans," the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources shared following the opening session.
Setting the Global Benchmark
The Maldivian delegation is driving the conference's core focus on sustainability. Ibrahim Athif Shakoor, a Strategic Consultant for the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), is a featured expert speaker at the event.
Shakoor is scheduled to guide global seafood executives through the Maldives' centuries-old fishing heritage. His presentation aims to demonstrate how the island nation's sustainable practices serve as the ultimate global benchmark for responsible tuna fisheries.
MIFCO Captures Global Market Attention
On the commercial front, MIFCO and other private sector representatives from the Maldivian fisheries sector are anchoring a heavy presence in the exhibition hall.
Operating among 44 global exhibitors, the Maldivian delegation is actively pitching directly to international buyers and fleet operators. Their goal is to leverage the unique identity of sustainably caught, one-by-one Maldivian tuna to secure new premium trade partnerships.
The TUNA 2026 conference brings together more than 500 delegates and 40 world-class speakers. It will run through September 16, 2026.
