Fishermen in Thinadhoo island of Gaafu Dhaal Atoll, where the state runs an ice plant, took to the streets on Sunday night protesting a change in policy on distributing ice.

The state has restricted distributing ice to fishing vessels that produce a catch. However, a member of a fishing crew in Thinadhoo told RaajjeMV that vessels without any catch have been provided with ice as well.

The fisherman further said that the chief of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company’s (MIFCO) ice plant in Thinadhoo had told him that they had received ‘orders from above’ instructing them to provide the aforementioned vessel with ice, while the new policy was in effect.

Another source on the island claimed that restriction on distributing ice is a deliberate attempt to hurt Thinadhoo’s fishing trade after local news organizations reported lack of facilities in the island, for weighing fish.

The source further claimed that officials at MIFCO have been ‘displeased’ with Thinadhoo’s fishing crews over this, suspecting them of having reported the matter to journalists.

RaajjeMV understands that MIFCO had provided Thinadhoo’s fishing crews with ice after Sunday night’s protest. Attempts to acquire a comment from MIFCO about the matter have been to no avail.

MIFCO also runs ice plants in Felivaru island of Lhaviyani atoll and Koodoo of Gaafu Alif atoll.