SAARC nations, including Maldives, to establish platform for regional fisheries management

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states have agreed to establish a dedicated regional platform to support the management of marine fisheries, including fisheries resources in region, including Maldives.

The decision was reached during a high-level meeting held in Malé, focused on enhancing regional cooperation among SAARC member countries for the sustainable management of tuna resources.

According to the Fisheries Ministry, the platform, which will be coordinated by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), will primarily focus on addressing key challenges affecting the fisheries sector across the region.

The meeting included extensive discussions on sustainable fishing practices, the value addition of tuna products, improving market access, strengthening food security, and increasing the empowerment and participation of women within the fisheries industry.

Speaking at the inauguration of the meeting, State Minister for Fisheries Mohamed Muthalib highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of innovative approaches.

The State Minister emphasized that these measures are vital to ensuring marine resources continue to contribute to food security, sustainable livelihoods, and economic growth throughout the region.

Key discussions during the meeting focused on addressing overfishing, combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and responding to the impacts of climate change. Participants also exchanged perspectives on developing a unified regional roadmap to effectively address these challenges.

The Ministry further stated that work is ongoing to formulate country-specific action plans, with particular attention given to commercially important tuna species. In addition, a comprehensive regional report outlining key challenges and recommending strategic solutions is currently being prepared.