Valuing the Hard Work of Maldivian Fishermen with Respect is a National Duty: President

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that valuing the hard work of Maldivian fishermen with respect is a national duty.

The President made this statement in a social media post shared today in connection with Fishermen's Day. In the post, he stated that it is a national duty to respectfully value the hard work done by Maldivian fishermen in the rain, sun, and day and night in the vast oceans.

As Fishermen's Day is being celebrated, the government is working towards providing immediate solutions to the concerns of fishermen and reaching a permanent solution. In this regard, solutions have been brought to one of the biggest concerns faced by fishermen and their families, which is the non-receipt of money for weighed fish. Arrangements have been made to release money within 48 hours for fish sold by fishermen to the Maldivian fish company MIFCO starting today, while arrangements have also been made for fishermen to get diesel at STO rates from 4 regions of the Maldives for the time being. Among the efforts being made for permanent solutions are the development of additional ice plants to ensure that fishermen can get ice from all parts of the Maldives, making arrangements for fishermen to get diesel at STO prices from all regions of the Maldives, increasing cold storage, and projects started to further develop government facilities that currently buy fish from fishermen.

The President stated that the work being done to develop and diversify the fishing industry will be carried out by listening to the voices of fishermen and as requested by fishermen. He also stated that the government wants to relinquish the control it currently has in this industry and give options and powers to fishermen. In this regard, the President has assured that once the ice plants currently being developed by the government are established, fishermen will be given the opportunity to choose who will operate them.

December 10 of every year is celebrated as the Fishermen's Day of the Maldives. As such, this year marks the 44th Fishermen's Day. The official ceremony for this year's Fishermen's Day will be held on the 13th of this month.