The Cabinet in its sitting on Tuesday decided to open opportunity for longline fishing for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. The Cabinet took the decision after discussing a paper on the issue that was subimitted by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

The Cabinet noted as fisheries has unsually worsened since 2006, the opportunity for longline fishing for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna was one of the ways to ameliorate the situation.

While on average Maldives shares 22 per cent of the total skipjack tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean, the country shares on average only 5 per cent other species of tuna. The Cabinet therefore discussed widening the fishery of those species, which they noted was more profitable.

The government will allow longline fishing for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna for only Maldivian vessels and Maldivians. Details and the policies for longline fishing will be announced the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture next week.

The Cabinet also discussed policies on purse seine on Maldivian waters. The President also briefed the Cabinet on the donor conference held from 28 to 29 March.