Making fishermen a state-recognized group is a policy of this government. Accordingly, to fulfill President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's presidential pledge to compile a national fishermen's registry, the Fisheries Ministry is carrying out the work of compiling a complete national registry of fishermen.
While a special team has been formed to carry out the work of registering fishermen, this team is working by dividing the Maldives into 6 zones. A coordinator has been appointed for each zone, and a team comprising political figures belonging to that zone has been formed and work has now begun.
The fishermen's registry work is proceeding under the supervision of Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam. The ministry's technical team is also participating in this work. While the zone teams are calling vessels and providing information, council focal points are also assisting in calling and meeting vessel owners and captains to provide information about the registry. The ministry noted that vessel owners and councils are giving immense cooperation in these efforts.
This registry has been finalized as a module added to the Fisheries Ministry's "Keyolhu" system. The Keyolhu system is a system that collects, stores, and maintains fisheries-related information.
While the government's policy is to make fishermen a group registered in a state institution, the Fisheries Ministry stated that when the registry work is completed, official information of all fishing vessels operating in the Maldives, captains, and crew members will be stored and maintained in the ministry's database. Looking at how the work is progressing now, it is expected that the registry work will be completed by the end of this month.
