Harvesting sea cucumbers in Laamu atoll.
The Maldives has opened loans again for the “Mariculture Enterprise Development Project”, operated jointly by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to harvest sea cucumbers.
Loans will be issued this time to conduct the project in the islands of Dhan’bidhoo, Kalaidhoo and Isdhoo in Laamu atoll. Loan application forms are available from the councils of the three islands and the fisheries ministry’s website.
According to the ministry, applications are to be submitted between July 2 and 12. The fisheries ministry stated that loans will be granted to total 150 individuals from the three specified islands in Laamu atoll.
This is the third time the government is issuing loans to harvest sea cucumbers under this project. The first round of loans were issued in 2016 while the second round took place earlier this year. Under the loan scheme, the ministry provides equipment worth the amount specified instead of cash, mainly materials and small sea cucumbers to begin the harvest.
The ministry uses a special point system to evaluate the loan applicants and choose individuals for the project.