Plenty more fish in the sea as over a ton discarded

The state-owned fisheries company has pledged to increase fish sales in the south, as local media reported that more than a ton of fish was discarded in Laamu atoll due to lack of buying capacity.

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) told local media that fish sales had increased to 600 tons per day, from around a six-month average of 150 tons per day.

The spike across the Maldives, especially in the south, has led to complaints about an ice shortage to keep the fish frozen, as well as MIFCO and other firms lacking buying capacity.

On Monday night, RaajjeTV reported that fishermen from Laamu atoll had chucked their catch after being unable to sell it or buy ice to keep it fresh.

A fisherman, who wished to remain anonymous, told RaajjeTV that more than a ton of fish was thrown back into the sea.

MIFCO said Sunday the company had already pulled in fish-weighing boats from the north to cater for the surge in the south. The company is also working to get a new boat that will be stationed in Kooddoo in Gaafu Alifu atoll, while ice plants in the south have been running for 24 hours to meet the rise in demand.

MIFCO said the fish-buying capacity in the south has been increased from 400 tons per day to 720 tons per day and freezing capacity has been increased from 216 tons per day to 612 tons per day.