In a Raajje TV exclusive, Managing Director of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd (MIFCO), Ismail Fauzee addressed the concerns of the fishermen protesting at the Felivaru Fisheries Complex by placing the blame for the current status of the fisheries industry on negligence on behalf of previous administrations.
A number of fishermen protested on the island of Lh. Felivaru on Tuesday, and Fauzee went on to say that MIFCO's capacity to weigh and store fish was somewhat diminutive in comparison to their resources as they lack the proper infrastructure to operate state-of-the-art facilities.
Fauzee went on to detail negligence by governments that preceded this one while addressing the causes for frustration expressed among fishermen at the protest, and reiterated the government’s commitment to developing MIFCO with a special focus to revitalize our fraught fishing industry.
Infrastructure improvements planned into the next year include adding 4,000 tonnes and 200 tonnes respectively for Felivaru's storage and cooling capacities.
Fauzee also highlighted efforts to install 80 Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) systems to facilitate instant storage options that fishermen can use for fresh catches, along with plans for a cannery on the island with a projected daily output of an additional 100 tonnes of processed fish.
"This project is designed to give northern fishermen hope, and to help achieve the hopes of these sailors"Ismail Fauzee, Managing Director, MIFCO
Fauzee drew attention to the concerns expressed by the protesting fishermen by acknowledging that the biggest obstacle they face is having to wait in queue to weigh and sell their catch. He said that the government has expansive plans for the fishing industry and that they would be able to execute these projects at the desired scale as the plans to develop Felivaru also involve installing an external port and carrier on the island as well.
While the government plans to develop a fish collection centre in Keekimini island of Shaviyani atoll, Fauzee acknowledged the fishermen's unease at the non-operational state of the island, but said that it was a private asset which prevents the government from claiming it to develop as needed to further sustain the fishing industry.
Tuesday's protest was punctuated by four demands from the fishermen, which included keeping the price of fish fair and steady at MVR 20, and Felivaru facilitating better access to ice for fishing vessels, along with speeding up the development of Sh. Keekimini as a fish collection site, and fascilitating daily weighing and selling options for fresh catch.
The disturbance began early Tuesday on Felivaru island and prompted police presence, with seamen from 17 vessels taking part in the protest.
During his address to mark National Fishermen's Day on December 10, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced plans to strengthen the country's fisheries industry including investing in six new ice plants to increase storage capacity, while helping install cooling systems to increase storage on fishing boats, as well as setting up a fish purchasing facilities to help to resolve present difficulties in weighing and valuing fish catch.
