Fish sale to MIFCO canneries improve

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) reports that the sale of fresh fish catches to its canneries has improved for the first time in days.

Statistics of MIFCO shows a daily average of 280 metric tons of fish sold to MIFCO currently, while the state-run processed fish manufacturer purchased 321 metric tons of fish in the last 48 hours. This includes 50.70 tons of fish purchased to MIFCO’s Felivaru Fisheries Complex, 221.12 metric tons purchased to Kooddoo Fisheries Complex, and 48.71 metric tons purchased by Addu Fisheries Complex.

Last Thursday, MIFCO purchased 492 metric tons of fish, which were all purchased from a total of 110 fishing vessels, and amounted to MVR 5.7 million – which was issued to fishers on the same day.

On Wednesday last week, a total of 71 vessels sold 362 metric tons of fish worth MVR 4.4 million; which was disbursed on the same day as well.

Recently, fish purchase volume to MIFCO plummeted significantly. Statistics for December 23, 2024 showed only 55 metric tons of fish worth MVR 631,848 sold to the company. MIFCO bought 82 metric tons of fish the following day.

Speaking with ‘Sun’ Online, MIFCO said that fisheries activity has started to show growth after seven months of decline.

Statistics from MIFCO further showed the number of vessels operational in fishing have gone up, which however dropped momentarily amid bad weather.

The weather transitional period is often tied to improved fisheries activity in the Maldives. However, Maldives Meteorology forecasts bad weather conditions including large sea swells, heavy rainfall and thunder for northern and central parts of Maldives from January 13 to 18. This is expected to reduce the number of vessels that embark on fishing trips.