Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the completion of the processing facility the government has decided to establish in Hulhumale' will resolve the biggest challenge currently facing yellowfin tuna fishers.
The 35-tonne yellowfin tuna processing facility being established in Hulhumale' is a replacement for the K. Kandu Oiy Giri Fish Village, which was handed over for the use of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). According to the government, the factory's work will be completed next year.
In an interview given to state media PSM regarding the work of the Fisheries Ministry, Minister Shiyam said that the government is working to fulfill the pledges made to yellowfin tuna fishers and to resolve the challenges they face. In this regard, the Minister stated that preparations are underway to begin work on establishing a facility in Hulhumale', in place of Kandu Oiy Giri, that meets the needs of yellowfin tuna fishers. The Minister said that the funds required to build the fish factory have been secured, and the project will be opened for bidding very soon.
"Preparations for that (building the facility) are underway. The required funds have been secured. The work of allocating land is also currently ongoing. Therefore, it will be opened very soon to establish that facility there. It will be opened by MIFCO. God willing. It will be a very important environment for small-scale yellowfin tuna packers. Then I think the biggest challenge currently facing yellowfin tuna fishers, or what they most want to achieve, will be achieved," Minister Shiyam said.
The Minister said that to resolve the issues faced by large yellowfin tuna fishers, the government is working with the "Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union - BKMU" (Large Yellowfin Tuna Fishers Union), which represents them, and the companies that buy large yellowfin tuna. Noting that the biggest complaint from companies buying large yellowfin tuna is not getting the required size and quality of yellowfin tuna, the Minister said that through the "Blue Economy Project" being conducted with JICA with the assistance of the Japanese government, techniques have been identified to maintain the quality of landed yellowfin tuna and to reduce the time spent hauling yellowfin tuna onto the vessel. The Minister noted that this will pave the way for yellowfin tuna fishers to get good prices.
