Malé, Maldives – Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO) has decided to bring an additional vessel from abroad to meet the escalating supply of tuna from the south.
The decision was conveyed by the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture
The company made this decision while MIFCO facilities are failing to meet the freezer capacity required to accommodate the escalating supply of tuna caught by local fishers in the southern region of the Maldives.
MIFCO has previously decided to limit the purchase of fish at its southern centres over freezing capacity constraints as the Maldives is currently experiencing a high fishing season.
The issue was recently brought to the attention of the Minister of Fisheries Hussain Rasheed Hassan during his visit to Kooddoo to dialogue with the fishermen from the region.
The current freezing capacity in the south includes,
- Maandhoo Factory (120 tonnes)
- Koodoo Factory (240 tonnes)
- Jazeera 102 Vessel (120 tonnes)
- Mahaakalaminja Vessel (75 tonnes)
- Hulhumeedhoo Factory (60 tonnes)
While the southern region has a freezing capacity of 615 tonnes, the freezing facilities are unable to buy and store fish within 24 hours of catch. The freezing facilities are buying fish in queue order to meet the current supply.
