Maldives hailed as global leader in sustainable tuna as Seafood Watch issues first country rating

The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch programme, widely used by US seafood buyers to guide responsible purchasing, has issued its first-ever country‑specific rating for Maldivian tuna fisheries, marking what the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources describes as a historic milestone.

According to the Ministry, this is the first time Seafood Watch has introduced country‑level assessments for tuna, and the Maldives has emerged at the forefront of this development. The updated guidance recommends Maldivian skipjack and yellowfin tuna as sustainable choices, placing the Maldives as the only Indian Ocean country where both fisheries are consistently rated a “Best Choice”.  

The document states: “the Maldives stands out as the only country in the region where both skipjack and yellowfin tuna are consistently rated as a ‘Best Choice’” .

The Ministry said this recognition reflects decades of work by Maldivian fishers, processors, industry partners, and the government.  

Maldives achieves landmark global recognition with first-ever country-specific Seafood Watch ratings.https://t.co/xwJwu294r2https://t.co/Al2gUzyvxm pic.twitter.com/SidWE6ciX1

— Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (@MFORmv) April 7, 2026

As noted in the statement: “This recognition reflects decades of leadership, innovation, and stewardship by Maldivian fishers, industry stakeholders, and the Government.” 

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam described the achievement as a proud moment for the country. He said the rating is a powerful endorsement of the Maldives’ fisheries model, which is rooted in sustainability, tradition, and responsibility.  

The statement quotes him saying: “Being the first country to receive country-specific ratings from Seafood Watch is a powerful endorsement of our fisheries model; one built on sustainability, tradition, and responsibility.” 

The Ministry highlighted that the Maldives’ one‑by‑one pole‑and‑line and handline fisheries are globally recognised for minimal environmental impact, low bycatch, and strong compliance with international sustainability standards.  

The document notes these fisheries are “globally recognised for their minimal environmental impact, low bycatch, and strong compliance with international sustainability standards.” 

The new rating is expected to open significant opportunities for Maldivian exporters in North America, one of the world’s fastest‑growing sustainable seafood markets, and strengthen the country’s competitive edge as global buyers increasingly prioritise sustainability.  

The Ministry states: “this milestone opens significant new opportunities for Maldivian fish processors and exporters to North American market.” 

The achievement comes as the Maldives accelerates efforts to modernise and expand the fisheries sector, including increasing domestic processing and promoting the national brand “From Maldives.”

The Ministry also noted that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for Maldivian skipjack tuna was recently extended to include handline yellowfin tuna, meaning the entire Maldivian tuna fleet is now MSC‑certified, another global benchmark.

Seafood Watch has never given country‑specific ratings before. This is an achievement that validates the one‑by‑one fishing tradition, the pole‑and‑line culture Maldivian fishermen have protected for generations. 

This recognition arrives at a time when concerns have been raised about the long‑term viability of the fisheries sector. In December, Minister Shiyam said the government was addressing sector challenges and aimed to double fisheries income during this term.