The Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources has successfully installed a replacement pole-and-line Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) 12 nautical miles east of GA. Maamutaa, following the drifting of the previously anchored unit.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources, the newly deployed FAD, bearing identification number O10D01-01, was anchored as part of a targeted field operation by the Ministry's technical team to facilitate easier access to fishing grounds for pole-and-line vessels operating in Gaafu Alifu Atoll and surrounding waters.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources noted that including the Maamutaa unit, Gaafu Alifu Atoll currently maintains six active pole-and-line FADs. Huvadhu Atoll stands as a central hub for pole-and-line fishing in the Maldives, hosting the largest fleet of active fishing vessels in the nation. Consequently, the Ministry highlighted that replacing lost or drifted FADs as swiftly as possible directly reduces search times for tuna schools, leading to substantial savings on vessel fuel expenses.
The installation forms part of the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources' ongoing efforts to manage and strengthen the national marine infrastructure. Across the Maldives, the national pole-and-line FAD network currently comprises 66 units.
