Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, the president of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and the parliamentary representative for Dh. Meedhoo constituency, urged authorities on Wednesday to provide a speedy solution to the issues facing yellowfin tuna fishermen.
He made the appeal in an address on Wednesday on occasion of the 45th Fishermen’s Day.
In his address, Siyam noted that fishing is a source of livelihood to many Maldivian families.
He urged all relevant authorities and stakeholders to listen to the concerns of fishermen and work to address them.
“Today, the most pressing challenge facing Maldivian fishermen is the difficulty in selling their catch, and the lack of fair price for their catch. It is imperative that a quick solution is found to these two critical solutions for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector,” he said.
Siyam specifically pointed out the challenges that yellowfin tuna fishermen continue to face, and urged authorities to address the difficulties they face in selling their catch and getting timely payments.
He urged all relevant authorities to work towards the goal of making Maldivian fish products the most valuable in the global market.
“I urge everyone to work hard to explore new markets, expand fish products, and make Maldivian products the most valuable in the global market in order to develop the fisheries sector,” he said.
The remarks come with the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) set to hold a protest later on Wednesday over the failure of the government to deliver its promise to set a floor price of MVR 80 – MVR 100 for purchase of yellowfin tuna.