Deputy Speaker Calls for Revision of Fish Subsidies

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ahmed Nazim, has called for revising the subsidies provided to local fishers, describing them as unfair. 

During a parliamentary session yesterday, Nazim urged the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) to adjust its fish purchase rates to reflect standard market prices.

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Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi, representing the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), submitted an emergency motion during the session, seeking a permanent resolution to the ongoing delays in settling outstanding payments to fishers. The motion demanded that the state settle these payments within 48 hours. The motion was approved with 74 votes, including support from the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC).

Nazim argued that the current rates set by MIFCO for purchasing fish were unreasonable, as they were higher than global market rates. “MIFCO suffers an eight kilo loss for each kilo it exports at this rate. However, the rates need to be revised to ensure sustainability in fish purchases, which is possible if the rates are brought down to a reasonable range,” Nazim commented. He emphasised that the state must settle the outstanding payments to fishers without any price revisions.

Nazim pointed out that the current economic conditions were unfavourable for paying the outstanding debts, which he said were inherited by the current administration. “We need to consider revising these prices, which is compulsory right now,” he stated.

He highlighted that the fishers’ population in the Maldives is approximately 17,000, including 3,700 yellowfin tuna fishers, with 614 vessels registered to sell fish to MIFCO. Nazim argued that it was unfair to spend a significant portion of subsidies on the local fishers’ community alone, while other sectors such as civil service and hospitality also have substantial employment.

Nazim suggested that if the price per kilo of fish is between MVR 12 and 15, the rates should be fixed at a reasonable range to ensure uninterrupted payments to fishers.

Fishers have been protesting at the Addu Fisheries Complex (AFC) since last Friday. The situation escalated when fishers cut power to the complex, halting its operations. The government disbursed MVR 46 million out of the outstanding MVR 90 million ahead of Eid-ul-Adha and stated it is working to arrange the remaining payments soon.

Meanwhile, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, said the state’s top priority this week is to resolve the issues faced by local fishers, including settling overdue payments. However, he did not specify an exact date for when the remaining payments would be made, reiterating that the state can only fulfil its pledges once the country’s economic conditions improve.