President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu met with local fishermen at the President’s Office on Sunday, where union representatives expressed satisfaction with the Government’s progress in addressing key concerns of the fishing community.
The fishermen welcomed recent developments in the sector, particularly the introduction of the 48-hour payment system, which they said has led to greater efficiency and increased youth involvement in the industry.
During the meeting, the fishermen reiterated their primary request to raise the fish purchase price to MVR 20 per kilogram, in line with the Government’s earlier pledge. Other requests included enabling access to fuel at State Trading Organisation (STO) rates, deploying digital weighing scales, expanding weighing stations, and installing additional Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The union also proposed a daily payment system for weighed fish and requested consideration for Ramadan bonuses.
President Muizzu reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the MVR 20 per kilogram rate and stated that work is ongoing to establish a daily payment mechanism and to fully digitize the fisheries sector. He also highlighted the introduction of bank loan facilities specifically designed for fishermen and assured continued efforts to improve financial access.
The President further noted plans to upgrade ice plant infrastructure as outlined in his Presidential Address, with capacity expansion projects already underway. On the topic of Ramadan bonuses, he expressed his intention to extend the allowance to all eligible workers, including fishermen, through a structured system based on the official registry.
The meeting concluded with President Muizzu reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of the fisheries sector and resolving challenges in collaboration with stakeholders.
The fishermen welcomed recent developments in the sector, particularly the introduction of the 48-hour payment system, which they said has led to greater efficiency and increased youth involvement in the industry.
During the meeting, the fishermen reiterated their primary request to raise the fish purchase price to MVR 20 per kilogram, in line with the Government’s earlier pledge. Other requests included enabling access to fuel at State Trading Organisation (STO) rates, deploying digital weighing scales, expanding weighing stations, and installing additional Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The union also proposed a daily payment system for weighed fish and requested consideration for Ramadan bonuses.
President Muizzu reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the MVR 20 per kilogram rate and stated that work is ongoing to establish a daily payment mechanism and to fully digitize the fisheries sector. He also highlighted the introduction of bank loan facilities specifically designed for fishermen and assured continued efforts to improve financial access.
The President further noted plans to upgrade ice plant infrastructure as outlined in his Presidential Address, with capacity expansion projects already underway. On the topic of Ramadan bonuses, he expressed his intention to extend the allowance to all eligible workers, including fishermen, through a structured system based on the official registry.
The meeting concluded with President Muizzu reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of the fisheries sector and resolving challenges in collaboration with stakeholders.
