Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Ahmed Shiyam has stated that it is a great success for Maldivian fishermen, fishing families, and fish processing factories.
The Minister made this statement in a social media post welcoming the UK government's decision to remove the tariff levied on Maldivian tuna products imported to the country.
The Minister described the UK's decision as a major success for Maldivian fishermen, their families, rural communities, as well as fish processing factories that have been advocating that environmentally friendly fishing is the highest standard of sustainable fishing.
"Maldivian tuna is not just food provided to the world. It is fishing done in an environmentally safe manner. Today, our important work has received the deserved respect and recognition from one of the world's largest markets," the Fisheries Minister stated.
In his post, the Minister expressed sincere gratitude to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for his strong guidance and leadership in advancing the Maldivian fisheries sector in the international arena. He also thanked all parties, including industrial partners of the Maldives and the UK, who worked tirelessly to make this a reality.
The UK government announced today its decision to remove the 20 percent import tariff previously levied on tuna products imported to the UK. With this decision, Maldivian tuna products can be exported to the UK without any duty until the end of 2028.
The Maldives exports approximately between 16.7 and 18 million pounds worth of tuna to the UK annually. Currently, the Maldives is the 9th largest exporter of fish to the UK. The Maldivian fisheries industry is globally recognized for practicing sustainable pole-and-line fishing.
