The Maldives has called for the elimination of trade barriers in fish and fish products, urging markets to prioritize sustainably managed and environmentally friendly fisheries.
The Maldives made this appeal at the 8th Meeting of Senior Officials of the Ministries in charge of Oceans of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Speaking at the meeting, the Director General of the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Dr. Hussain Sinan, highlighted the major challenges faced by the Maldives in the fish trade. In addition, he shed light on the efforts being made by the Maldives to plan, manage, and monitor fisheries, as well as the projects being implemented by the government to produce value-added fish products.
Furthermore, Dr. Sinan noted the importance of taking measures to mitigate the damages caused by climate change to countries like the Maldives, which fish exclusively in their Exclusive Economic Zone, and to small-scale fishers using small vessels. In this regard, he highlighted the negative impacts on such parties due to the warming of the ocean surface, increased salinity, decreased dissolved oxygen levels, and the increased frequency of storms. Additionally, he pointed out that climate change is altering the migratory routes of highly migratory species like tuna, leading to shifts in their habitats.
The OACPS Meeting of Ministers and Senior Officials in charge of Fisheries and Oceans is attended by delegates from 79 OACPS countries. The meeting, which began on the 9th of this month, will continue until the 13th of this month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The meeting will discuss the challenges faced by countries in planning, managing, and developing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The main objective of the Maldives becoming a member of the OACPS and signing the Samoa Agreement is to pave the way for the elimination of duties levied on fish exported to Europe.
