Expansion of MSC certification is the result of collaborative hard work: Ministry

The Ministry of Fisheries has stated that the expansion of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification to include the Maldives' pole-and-line and handline yellowfin tuna fisheries is the sweet result of sincere and hard work by all parties involved.

Following the expansion of the MSC certification, a message posted on social media by the Fisheries Ministry noted that this achievement is the result of continuous hard work over many years by the government, industry partners, and international organizations. The Ministry also highlighted that this is an important milestone achieved through efforts at the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), as well as collaborative work with the 'G16' countries and the 'Coastal States Alliance' to protect the yellowfin tuna population.

"This advancement will open up additional opportunities for Maldivian tuna products in the international market and build global trust in the Maldives' fisheries. Furthermore, this will pave the way for protecting the marine environment of the Maldives and ensuring sustainable livelihood opportunities for fishing families," the Ministry's message read.

With the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) expanding its certification from the Maldives' pole-and-line skipjack tuna fishery to also include the pole-and-line and handline yellowfin tuna fisheries, the entire tuna fishery of the Maldives has now become an MSC-certified fishery. This is a very important and historic step taken towards establishing a sustainable fisheries system and for the income and benefit of fishermen.

In relation to this major achievement for the fisheries industry, the Ministry has congratulated all parties active in the industry, especially tuna fishermen and workers in the fish processing industry.

The Maldives Seafood Processors and Exporters Association (MSPEA), which represents the main stakeholders of the Maldivian fisheries sector and leads the efforts to obtain MSC certification for Maldivian fisheries, has also expressed its gratitude to all parties involved in this achievement, particularly the Maldivian government and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, for their guidance and steadfastness.