The Maldives government has introduced a series of digital solutions for the fisheries industry, including mobile applications, websites and portals tailored for fishermen.
On Saturday, during the official Fishermen’s Day celebrations in Dhuvaafaru, Raa Atoll, the Bank of Maldives (BML) launched the Masveriyaa Portal to provide a range of financial assistance for fishermen. The portal allows eligible fishermen registered with the National Fishermen’s Registry to apply online for various Islamic finance products, including home purchase, home construction, higher education, vessel building and repair, guesthouse business, and financing for fishing equipment. The portal also enables fishermen to submit their documents online, view available schemes, and access other relevant information.
The “From Maldives” website was also launched to promote Maldivian fishery products in international markets. The “From Maldives” brand, managed by the Maldives Fisheries and Ocean Resources Marketing and Promotion Corporation, was originally launched on 17 July at the UK-Maldives Business Forum to market Maldivian fishery products abroad and facilitate better prices for fish products. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to increase processing and packaging capacity of fish products, expand fish cooling and storage systems, and enhance competitiveness in international markets.
Meanwhile, the Keyolhu App was upgraded to include real-time information on ice availability at ice plants, including plant locations, ice production levels, and ice availability for fishing boats. The feature is intended to save time and expenses for fishermen and offer greater convenience, and reflects President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s promise to fishermen to improve ice supply monitoring.
The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) also launched a special application called “Mas Kiraa” to streamline weighing processes for fishermen. The app was conceptualized by Keyolhaa Maldives President Shafga Shafeeq and developed in collaboration with MIFCO. The app provides fishermen with an auto-generated queue number, and also allows them to register their boats. Fishermen can request additional services such as oil, water, and ice, and generate tokens for fish weighing. Users can also track previous catch statistics, helping them monitor their catch history. The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources highlighted that the app will save time, reduce long queues, and greatly facilitate fishermen’s work.