New Sports Fishing Harbours Will Help Boost Tourism, Says Minister Shiyam

The development of harbours across five regions, equipped specifically for sports fishing, including the necessary equipment, will significantly boost tourist arrivals and benefit the economy, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has stated. He made this statement at the closing ceremony of a fishing tournament held to commemorate the 44th national Fishermen’s Day, which is marked annually on 10 December.

The skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna industry was in a dire state when President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration came to power, according to Minister Shiyam. Adding that fish processing companies and other entities in the fishery sector were also facing numerous challenges, Minister Shiyam stated that since the first day of his administration, President Dr Muizzu has been diligently working to address and solve these issues.

Minister Shiyam also highlighted several achievements of the current administration, including the payment of all outstanding dues to fishermen and the clearance of the backlog of payments. Another milestone is the reduction of fuel prices sold to fishermen, he said.

The Minister also noted that establishing facilities for sports fishing was an electoral pledge of President Dr Muizzu. Dedicated zones have been identified for the development of sports fishing harbours, and work on these facilities is currently underway, he revealed. Once completed, these projects are expected to increase tourist arrivals, which will, in turn, benefit the economy, he projected.

“We have identified locations across the country. With God’s will, the development of these harbours will bring benefits to sports fishing and the local sports fishing community,“ Minister Shiyam said. “Tourists are visiting for reef fishing in addition to enjoying the natural beauty and sunny beaches. With the attention of the international community, once the sports fishing harbours are completed, tourist arrivals will increase, and this component will become a sector that benefits the economy.”

Sports fishing is garnering increasing attention and interest among Maldivian youth. This surge in interest is one of the reasons behind President Dr Muizzu’s pledge to develop harbours dedicated to sports fishing, according to Minister Shiyam. The administration has identified five regions for the development of these harbours, he said, which will feature facilities such as fish stalls, spaces to organise and manage sports fishing competitions, administrative offices, restaurants, cafés, shops selling fishing gear, and BBQ areas.

The development of dedicated harbours for sports fishing will effectively address the concerns and challenges faced by sports fishing enthusiasts and industry professionals, added Minister Shiyam.