The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has announced a new regulation for line fishing in the Maldives, with specific provisions for where it can be conducted.
The fisheries ministry said that the regulation aims to create opportunities for local fishermen, setting requirements for vessels involved in line fishing. The ministry also noted that some Maldivian vessels have already expressed interest in this type of fishing.
While the regulation opens up line fishing opportunities for locals, it also designates specific areas for the activity. As such, line fishing will be permitted within 100 miles of the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). However, it will not be allowed in the northernmost region of the country, where the majority of fishermen are currently active. Instead, line fishing will be allowed from the eastern and western regions of Addu City to the southern part of Alifushi in Raa Atoll. Fishing will be prohibited north of Raa Atoll. The ministry has also recently marked the equidistance boundary from the southern region of the country to the southern part of Addu.
The Cabinet decided to allow line fishing in Maldivian territorial waters in March this year. Following this, the fisheries ministry drafted the regulation and sought public feedback. The ministry is currently revising the regulation based on these comments and will implement it after finalising changes and consulting the Attorney General's Office (AGO).
Some fishermen have expressed concerns about the introduction of line fishing in the Maldives. However, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has assured that line fishing will not be permitted if it compromises the interests of fishermen.