Fishermen gather off Male’ to protest unfulfilled pledges

Yellowfin tuna fishermen gathered in boats off the capital Male’ City on Wednesday, protesting the lack of progress made by the authorities in delivering the pledges made to them.

The protest, organized by the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) - a trade union of yellowfin tuna fishermen – began at Hulhumale’ jetty, before heading towards Male’ City.

Over a dozen boats are now gathered in the waters off the No. 1 Jetty.

They are being blocked from entering the lagoon by the Coast Guard and the police.

The BKMU has said that they are protesting over the failure to deliver three pledges written in President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s manifesto. They are:

• Having Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) begin purchase of yellowfin tuna.
• Setting the floor price for yellowfin tuna to MVR 80 – MVR 100 per kilo.
• Supplying fuel to fishermen at the base rate and improving access to ice

BKMU said they have been urging President Muizzu’s administration to fulfill these pledges ever since it took office.

Yellowfin tuna fishermen are disillusioned, with none of the union’s efforts producing any results, said the BKMU.