President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the government's aim is to develop the yellowfin tuna fishery and increase the economic benefits derived from it compared to before.
Delivering this year's Presidential Address, the President said the government is working to find solutions to the concerns and challenges faced by yellowfin tuna fishermen. In this regard, the President stated that the government is making arrangements to provide fuel at cheaper rates to yellowfin tuna fishermen, similar to skipjack tuna fishermen.
The President said the government's aim is to develop the yellowfin tuna fishery and increase the economic benefits derived from it. He noted that yellowfin tuna fishermen will receive good benefits by establishing a modern packing facility required by tuna exporting companies, and announced that the practical work of building such a facility in Hulhumale' will begin this year.
"For this purpose, the agreement for the 25,000 square feet of land required to build the planned 100-tonne packing facility in Hulhumale' has been signed, and God willing, the practical work of this facility will begin in the middle of this year," the President said.
Among the requests submitted to the government by yellowfin tuna fishermen are for MIFCO to start buying yellowfin tuna, setting a minimum floor price between MVR 80 and MVR 100 for purchasing tuna, arranging for fishermen to get fuel at the STO base rate, and facilitating easy access to ice.
In today's Presidential Address, the President said the government's efforts to purchase yellowfin tuna are also proceeding at a fast pace.
The state fisheries company, MIFCO, has now started buying yellowfin tuna. As such, MIFCO's Kanduoiygiri facility was reopened, and on January 11 this year, it began purchasing fish weighing above 15 kg at a rate of MVR 25. Additionally, MIFCO's landing facilities and fish weighing boats have started buying yellowfin tuna weighing between 10 kg and 15 kg at a rate of MVR 20.
Looking at the details of yellowfin tuna purchased by MIFCO last month, 80.45 tonnes of fish weighing above 10 kg were bought from 168 vessels. A total of MVR 1.6 million was disbursed for this fish. Furthermore, 72.16 tonnes of fish weighing above 15 kg were bought from 148 vessels, with a total of MVR 1.8 million disbursed for this fish.
