Malé, Maldives – Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO) on Saturday limited tuna purchase from the southern atolls to 7 tonnes effective tomorrow.
MIFCO 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 company has also reinstated the queue system.
While Koodoo Fisheries Complex is currently purchasing the entire catch of fishing vessels queued in the Koodoo harbour, the work is expected to be complete by tonight.
The Government of Maldives on Wednesday authorized the purchase of all tuna caught by fishing vessels queued at Koodoo amid protests by fishermen from the southern atolls.
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)
As 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. MIFCO states that the current high fishing season is an anomaly while fishermen maintain that this is a persisting issue unresolved over years.
