Crowds gather at beaches as Fuvahmulah welcomes flying fish season

Crowds of people have been gathering at the beaches of Fuvahmulah, as the southern city welcomes this year’s flying fish season.

Fuvahmulah is the only one island atoll in Maldives. Unlike other Maldives islands, Fuvahmulah lacks a lagoon, and is often surrounded by waves banging on the shore. Its house reef is also very close to the shore.

Every year, when the deep sea becomes too rough during the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as the Hulhangu Monsoon, flying fish gather near the reef. As larger fish seize the opportunity to feast on them, they get airborne in an attempt to evade capture. Some of the fish become pray to hovering sea birds, while others land on the beach.

Fuvahmulah, due to its unique geographic makeup, is a prime spot for catching flying fish.

Fuvahmulah City councilman Abdulla Nasir told Sun on Thursday that the flying fish season began in the island a couple of days back.

The island sees flying fish with the onset of the Hulhangu Monsoon every year.

But Nasir said that there are fewer flying fish than usual this year.

“Its not as frequent, as of late. It’s fewer than in the old days. But there have been times when we have seen a lot [of flying fish],” he said.

Nasir said that large crowds gather at the beaches in the western side of the island to catch the flying fish.

The locals usually eat it by frying it.