MIFCO Starts Buying 10-15kg Yellowfin Tuna at 20 MVR Rate

The state-owned fisheries company, MIFCO, has begun purchasing small yellowfin tuna at a rate of 20 MVR.

MIFCO stated today that its landing facilities and fish weighing boats have started buying yellowfin tuna weighing between 10kg and 15kg at a rate of 20 MVR starting today. MIFCO said this decision was made to provide further relief to fishermen who are currently selling yellowfin tuna to the company.

"Until now, MIFCO has been buying yellowfin tuna over 15kg. A vessel will naturally catch yellowfin tuna of various sizes. Therefore, what happens is that after selling that size of fish to MIFCO, they have to find another way to sell the remaining yellowfin tuna. They have to travel to another destination. That is a huge burden. So, as a quick solution to this, the company decided yesterday to start buying yellowfin tuna weighing between 10kg and 15kg at a rate of 20 MVR starting today. This will be a great convenience for fishermen," a MIFCO official said.

Previously, MIFCO bought yellowfin tuna over 15kg for 18 MVR. And since the 10th of this month, yellowfin tuna over 15kg is being bought at a rate of 25 MVR from Kandu Oiy Giri and the Male area.

MIFCO has started buying small yellowfin tuna after the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) requested the company to buy yellowfin tuna weighing 5-10kg during a meeting held yesterday. The union's main proposal is for MIFCO to start buying large yellowfin tuna. Currently, MIFCO does not have the capacity to buy large yellowfin tuna.

Starting to buy large yellowfin tuna at MIFCO is a presidential pledge of this government. To implement this pledge, preparations are underway to arrange the purchase of large yellowfin tuna at the Kandu Oiy Giri village, which MIFCO has brought back into operation. Preparations are also underway to establish a yellowfin tuna processing facility in Hulhumale.