Maldives to Establish New Fish Aggregating Device Production Centres

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam announced plans to establish fish aggregating device (FAD) production centres in the northern and southern regions of the country. 

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Shiyam highlighted the initiative as a strategic response to the increasing demand from both the fishing and tourism sectors.

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The minister outlined that two types of sails are currently manufactured locally: one for general fishing and another for sports fishing. He noted, however, that adverse weather conditions often damage these devices, underlining the need to enhance the resilience and capacity of local production.

Presently, the Maldives has only one FAD production centre, which has proven insufficient to meet rising industry needs. To address this, the ministry has taken steps to establish two additional centres, with land allocation complete and site preparation underway at one of the locations.

Since the current administration assumed office, 29 fish aggregating devices have been constructed, including 18 for general fishing purposes. This progress underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering the fishing sector and supporting the livelihoods tied to it.