The government has reached a significant milestone in the expansion of its maritime infrastructure by installing 90 fish aggregating devices across the country, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources. These recently deployed assets, which serve as critical infrastructure for the nation’s vital fishing industry, are categorised into two distinct types to support different sectors of the maritime economy.
The current administration has deployed 42 of these devices, known as FADs, specifically for traditional pole-and-line fishing, which primarily targets skipjack tuna and other oceanic species. An additional 48 units have been installed for the sports and recreational reef fishing sector, catering to both local leisure and broader recreational interests.
Ahmed Shiyam, the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, noted the historic pace of these deployments, highlighting the administration’s aggressive push to support the maritime economy. No previous administration has executed the installation of these devices at the remarkable volume currently being achieved, he stated, underscoring the government’s commitment to the sector.
Because these assets are critical for the livelihood of fishermen, the loss or detachment of a device creates significant operational hardships. Repairing and replacing severed FADs remains a top and urgent priority, the ministry noted.
Despite this rapid progress, the national demand for these aggregating devices remains exceptionally high. A primary logistical challenge hindering faster deployment has been the centralisation of operations, the ministry acknowledged, as the nation currently relies on a single assembly and installation centre situated in Hulhumalé.
To alleviate this bottleneck, the ministry is actively advancing plans to construct two additional centres positioned strategically in the northern and southern regions of the country. Physical construction on a new facility in Funadhoo, Shaviyani Atoll, is slated to commence in the very near future, the ministry confirmed, as part of this decentralised infrastructure approach.