One of the main purposes of establishing a licensing system in planning, managing, and regulating fisheries is to identify those active in the sector and those economically dependent on fisheries resources, as well as to collect and maintain fisheries statistics. Furthermore, the licensing system plays a key role in providing the Fisheries Ministry with the necessary information to develop the fisheries industry and deliver adequate services to fishermen.
In addition, establishing such a licensing system and officially recording and maintaining the details of those active in fisheries and the fisheries trade through this system is one of the most important steps taken to protect the rights of fishermen and those who prepare fish and fish products, ensuring their rightful social and economic security. Moreover, maintaining information on fishing vessels, the captains and crew operating on those vessels, and fish processing facilities through such a system will be a crucial step in making fisheries in the Maldives adequately planned, managed, and regulated, and recognized internationally. Furthermore, the information collected through such a system can also be utilized in planning fisheries development projects.
Therefore, in order to monitor and regulate reef fishing and reef fishery trade activities through a robust system, the following parties active in reef fishing and the reef fishery trade will be licensed under the licensing system:
Parties selling reef fish products as intermediaries to exporters and resorts
The procedures for applying for, issuing, renewing, and canceling licenses, the duration and fees of the license, and the rules to be followed by licensed parties will be specified in the regulation on planning, managing, and regulating reef fishery. Additionally, the Ministry will compile and maintain a registry containing information on all vessels licensed for reef fishing, as well as the captains and crew of those vessels.
In 2009, general principles for issuing licenses were introduced. Although this system was primarily introduced to license vessels engaged in tuna fishing, vessels engaged in commercial reef fishing can also obtain licenses under it. However, it was not made mandatory for vessels engaged in reef fishing. Furthermore, since fishing for different types of fish is permitted under a single license, it is difficult to identify which of the licensed vessels are generally engaged in reef fishing.
