Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the Maldives will set an example in the fight against illegal fishing.
The Minister made these remarks while speaking at a meeting hosted by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference currently underway in Nice, France. The Minister stated that international frameworks can only succeed with the support of powerful nations, and that the Maldives will set an example in the efforts against illegal fishing.
In his speech, the Minister noted that the Maldives is taking numerous steps to digitalize and transform the Maldivian fisheries sector. Under this initiative, the Minister stated that it will ensure vessel ownership information is fully maintained and transparently available to the public. The Minister highlighted that reliable and well-maintained data is the most powerful tool we have, and it is also a means to enforce laws and build trust among all stakeholders.
Furthermore, in line with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's vision for fisheries, the Minister gave assurances that efforts will be made to fully digitalize the entire fisheries "value chain" by the end of this year.
