Hope to complete fishermen's registry by July: Minister

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the work to compile the national fishermen's registry will be completed by the end of June or July this year.

Opening the opportunity to register in the national fishermen's registry is a pledge included in the government's Week-14 roadmap.

Speaking about the registry at a press conference held by the ministry today to disclose the progress of the Fisheries Ministry's work included in the government's Week-14 roadmap, the Minister said that up until today, fishermen are not recognized by the state, and the biggest effort to make fishermen recognized by the state is compiling the registry. Noting that the lack of a registry prevents fishermen from accessing facilities issued by banks and services provided by government institutions and companies, the Minister said that with the completion of the registry, these issues will be resolved and fishermen will become recognized employed individuals by the state.

Sharing the progress of the work to compile the national fishermen's registry, the Minister said that the registry was launched on February 16, and the opportunity to register has been opened. He added that the registration work is not left solely to the fishermen, but the ministry is working with councils to update the registry. He expressed hope that the registry will be completed by the end of June/July.

"The opportunity to register in the registry is open. We are not leaving it just to the fishermen; the ministry is working together with the councils to complete the fishermen's registry as soon as possible. We hope that the registry will be fully completed around June/July," the Minister said.

The Minister said that to complete the registry work, a team from the ministry is currently active in Addu City, Fuvahmulah City, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Laamu, Shaviyani, and Haa Dhaalu atolls. After that, the team will be active in Haa Alifu, Lhaviyani, Thaa, and Male' and Hulhumale' City, the Minister said.

The Minister said that when compiling the fishermen's registry, it will not only include skipjack and yellowfin tuna fishermen, but those engaged in other types of fishing in the fishing industry will also be included in this registry.

The Minister said that with the completion of the national fishermen's registry, fishermen will receive significant relief. In particular, it will make it easier to provide the services the state needs to provide to fishermen, paving the way for fishermen to obtain those services.