The Maldives parliament has rejected an emergency motion seeking to halt the current government’s plans to reopen longline fisheries.
The emergency motion was submitted to the parliament by the current opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources drafted regulations for yellowfin tuna longline fisheries and opened for public comment earlier. The draft regulation outlines the management of bycatch species such as sharks, while targeted shark fishing is still prohibited.
The regulation facilitates for non-targeted bycatch species, sharks included, caught in longline fishing to be processed in specially licensed facilities.
The former MDP-led government had banned longline fisheries in 2019.
Besides the current opposition party, multiple fisheries, tourism, and environmental groups have expressed concern over the current government’s plans to reopen this fishing practice.
MDP lawmaker Mauroof Zakir, representing Kendhoo constituency, submitted the emergency motion on the issue on Monday but was rejected with a majority vote of 47 while 11 members voted in favor with one abstinence.
In his motion, Mauroof highlighted previous efforts to reopen longline fisheries, which however was rejected in favor of maintaining the ban owing to the projected damages from the practice on the Maldivian fisheries industry that practices pole and line fishing.
Mauroof further argues longline fisheries will adversely impact the fisheries industry along with the tourism sector as well. He also noted the concerns raised by various fisheries and tourism stakeholders, environmental advocacy groups, and others.
MDP had demanded the cabinet to reverse its decision to reopen longline fisheries.
Maldives allowed yellowfin tuna longline fisheries in 2012, but was banned in 2019 by the MDP administration.
The current government’s decision to lift this ban was met with criticism from former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail who said in a post on X, the former government banned this practice since it recognized the benefits of sustainable fisheries over any possible benefits of longline fisheries.
“The current government’s inability to understand the issues at hand and the destructive policies they continue to come up for the benefit of a few individual beneficiaries is ensuring a fast trajectory towards the complete destruction of the economic gains made during the last decade,” the former minister bemoaned.
Besides Fayyaz, MDP’s current leader and former Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Shahid claimed he was shocked by the government’s decision to abandon one of the key features of the Maldivian fisheries industry – sustainability.
“It endangers the tourism industry and our international reputation and leadership. The high bycatch, including of endangered species which are critical to our marine ecosystem, will also harm our prospects of bolstering trade,” Shahid said in a post on X, and urged the government to reverse the “ill-considered decision” and work in the best interests of the people.
Meanwhile, the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) – a union that advocates on behalf of yellowfin tuna fishers – also expressed opposition to this plan, noting that uplifting this ban would allow larger foreign fisheries companies to dominate the sector and remove local fishers from competition.