Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture has launched the Promotion of Blue Economy in the Fisheries Sector of the Maldives project.
The Government of the Maldives will be conducting the project with assistance from the Government of Japan. The main aim of the project is to expand the fisheries sector in accordance with the policies of the government’s strategic action plan related to its blue economy strategy. The project will be carried out until 2024 and will be fully funded by the Japanese government.
The project was inaugurated at a special ceremony by Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan and Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Takeuchi Midori. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Hassan noted the assistance provided by the Japanese government in the efforts to expand the fisheries sector and that this new project is expected to increase fish prices.
Speaking to PSM News, Director General at the Fisheries Ministry Adam Ziyad said the project aims to increase fish prices, expand the fisheries market, solve the problems in bait fishing, reduce the deaths of bait fish, as well as assist producers of dried fish. He said experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be assisting in the project, which will begin in August. He added that fishing crews will be trained as quality controllers under the project, which is important for increasing the quality of Maldivian fish products.