The Fisheries Ministry has opened the opportunity to participate in a fish filleting competition, which will be held as part of the activities to mark this year's Fishermen's Day.
In an announcement published today, the Ministry stated that the competition will be held in R. Dhuvaafaru, the island designated by the government to host the Fishermen's Day celebrations. The competition, scheduled to be held in R. Dhuvaafaru on Saturday, 13 December 2025, aims to revive the fading tradition of fish filleting among Maldivians and highlight its importance as a crucial task within the fishing industry, according to the Ministry's announcement.
The opportunity to participate in this competition, which is targeted at both genders, was opened today. Participation is open to individuals aged 18 and above residing in Dhuvaafaru. The Ministry stated that the competition will proceed with 8 participants from each category. Furthermore, participants will be selected based on the order in which they submit their application forms.
Individuals wishing to participate in the competition are requested by the Ministry to fill out the application form and submit it to the Ministry before 14:00 on Thursday, 27 November 2025. The Ministry has also published the rules of the competition. According to the rules, each participant will be handed 2 fish. When filleting the fish, participants must cut the gills, separate the head and collar, skin the fish, cut it into halves, and then remove the backbone to separate it into 4 fillets. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from both categories who fillet the assigned fish most perfectly and quickly.
Competition Prizes:
- 1st Place: Cash prize of 5,000 Rufiyaa
- 2nd Place: Cash prize of 3,000 Rufiyaa
- 3rd Place: Cash prize of 2,000 Rufiyaa
While it has been decided to officially celebrate this year's Fishermen's Day in Dhuvaafaru, the Fisheries Ministry and the Dhuvaafaru Council are jointly planning numerous activities. In addition to the fish filleting competition, these include a reef fishing race, a cooking competition named "Rahavaru", a fishermen's forum, and a children's evening.
Every year, December 10th is celebrated as Fishermen's Day. Fishermen's Day is celebrated at a national level with the aim of appreciating Maldivian fishermen and encouraging their work. This year marks the 45th Fishermen's Day. The official ceremony for this year's Fishermen's Day will be held on December 13th in R. Dhuvaafaru. Three awards are scheduled to be presented at the ceremony. These are the Experienced Skipper Award, the Dedicated Young Skipper Award, and the Dedicated Reef Fisherman Award.
