Fisheries Minister Shiyam to be summoned to Parliament tomorrow

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has been scheduled to be summoned to the Parliament floor.

Minister Shiyam is scheduled to attend the third sitting of the first session of 2025 tomorrow to answer a question submitted by Kendhoo constituency MDP member Mauroof Zakir.

In the member's submission, he asked what is being done to provide a sustainable income for those whose entire livelihoods depend on fishing, including those who earn an income by cooking, drying, and selling skipjack tuna, little tuna (latti), and frigate tuna (raagondi) as dried fish, as well as reef fishermen and those engaged in other types of fishing. He also asked why there is discrimination among fishermen in various sectors of the fishing industry, with these groups not receiving fuel subsidies.

This question had been scheduled previously as well. However, the Minister did not attend at that time.

Minister Shiyam is being summoned to Parliament at a time when fishing has improved and vessels are catching large quantities of fish, but fishermen are expressing concern over the lack of ways to weigh and sell their catch.