Government's biggest target is exporting value-added fish: Minister

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the government's biggest target is to stop exporting raw fish from the Maldives and instead export value-added fish.

Speaking at a press conference held today to disclose the extent to which the fisheries pledges included in the government's "Hafuthaa 14" roadmap have been achieved, the Minister said that the Maldives currently catches 120,000 tonnes of fish annually, of which 62-65 tonnes are exported from the Maldives.

Noting that 75% of the fish exported from the Maldives is exported as raw material, the Minister said that the government's target is to reduce the amount of raw fish exported to zero and to export fish processed in other ways.

"Our target is to make raw material zero. Exporting fish canned or value-added through other processing methods is our target," the Minister said.

The government is working to increase the profitability of the fisheries industry. The government's vision is to make the Maldivian fisheries industry the highest income-generating sector for the Maldivian economy and the industry that provides the most job opportunities for Maldivian citizens during Dr. Muizzu's five-year tenure.