The Male' City Council has given a deadline for vessels using the lagoon area of the Male' North Harbour Local Market to register with the council.
The City Council provided the registration deadline as part of changes brought to the area to resolve difficulties faced by vessels entering, exiting, and seeking services in the lagoon, and to provide easier arrangements. In connection with these changes, it was publicly announced today that all vessels using the lagoon area from the western corner of the Local Market to the eastern corner of Kendhigas Hingun must register with the council before June 30. The council stated that the required registration form will be available on its website.
According to the council's announcement today, under the new arrangements, fishing vessels and cargo vessels coming to the area for services must register their names at the City Council post in the area before entering and seeking services. The announcement also stated that starting from July 1, 2025, fees will be collected from all vessels moored in the area and all vessels seeking services, under the regulation on managing the lagoons and harbours of Male' City.
The lagoon area of the Male' North Harbour Local Market is an important area used by fishing vessels and large boats transporting goods to the atolls. It is an area heavily used, especially by vessels coming to sell fish to the fish market and vessels of parties providing cargo loading and unloading services. Therefore, the City Council stated that these changes are being brought to further strengthen the services in the area, make the lagoon space more spacious, and provide services with ease.
Fishing and cargo vessels, as well as civil society organizations working in the fisheries sector, have shared with the City Council the difficulties faced in using the Male' North Harbour lagoon. In the City Council's efforts to resolve these issues, discussions were also held with civil society organizations and MPL.
