Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has expressed concern following the government's decision to establish the proposed fisheries college in Male'.
In a message shared on social media expressing his concern, Nizar stated that it would have been a positive step if the fisheries college was established in Huvadhoo Atoll, which has a large population of fishermen, or any other atoll with many fishermen. Noting that most fishermen belong to the atolls, Nizar described the government's decision requiring them to travel to Male' to acquire fisheries education as a poor policy.
"Introducing another policy to bring fishermen or other interested individuals from the atolls to Male', or to 'congest' Male' further, is not a good decision," Nizar said.
Work has begun to establish the fisheries college in Male' City in collaboration between the Fisheries Ministry and the Maldives National University (MNU). MNU stated that preparations are underway to commence classes at the college this coming August. Classes will begin with short courses related to fisheries, and once classes commence, the fisheries sector courses currently conducted by MNU will also be run under the college.
The government announced that a fisheries college would be established in the Maldives on Fishermen's Day last year.
