The government says it will allow imported fish to be processed at the country’s canning factories to help try and alleviate concerns over shortages in local supplies.
President Mohamed Nasheed claimed that a “dwindling” local fish catch had meant Maldivian canneries were currently running below capacity. To alleviate the potentially detrimental impacts of this situation on the country’s fishing industry, the government hopes allowing the processing of fresh imported fish will help businesses to diversify their products lines and re-export a more diverse array of canned products.
The government insisted that despite records of improved catches in the country’s northerly atolls, fish numbers have fallen over the last decade. In looking to further diversify the country’s fisheries income, Nasheed said that the government has pledged to step up sea cucumber exports.
