Two-day fisheries and blue economy workshop launched with China's Hainan University

A special technical training program on fisheries and the blue economy has begun, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources and Hainan University of China.

The ministry said the two-day training workshop, which began on Monday, will continue until Tuesday.

The opening ceremony was attended by Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam and the Chinese Ambassador to Maldives, Kong Xinhua.

According to the ministry, the main objective of the program is to strengthen bilateral cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Maldives and China, and to provide essential technical training to relevant agencies to enhance their capacity in fisheries and ocean-resource management.

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— Min of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources (@MFAORmv) September 21, 2026

The Hainan University delegation is also scheduled to visit the ministry’s mariculture research island, Maniyafushi, in Kaafu Atoll.

A total of 51 participants from various institutions are taking part in the workshop, including the Ministry of Fisheries, the Maldives Marine Research Institute, Maldives National University, MIFCO, the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, the Environmental Regulation Authority, and Villa International High School.

The training will focus on marine biodiversity conservation, sustainable fishery management, and tropical aquaculture, including saltwater aquaculture techniques designed to adapt to climate change. Sessions will also cover coral-reef restoration, forest rehabilitation, and predicting climate-related disasters.

Separately, a 24-member Maldivian delegation departed for China last week to attend a three-week seminar on sustainable fisheries, held in Wuxi, China. The delegation includes senior officials and technical experts from the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources and MIFCO.

A 24-member delegation from the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources and MIFCO is participating in the Seminar on Green Fisheries Development and Management for the Maldives, organised by the Government of the People’s Republic of China in Wuxi City from 8–28… pic.twitter.com/Nn4KMeS2OD

— Min of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources (@MFAORmv) September 9, 2026

The seminar aims to introduce environmentally friendly technology, co-culture methods, and modern fish-processing skills. Following President Muizzu’s recent visit to China, the program is also expected to support key initiatives such as the development of MIFCO cold-storage facilities and the export of Maldivian seafood to Hainan under the Free Trade Agreement.