Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd Mifco says it has decided to control the amount of fish catch it weighs and values amid a strong fishing season in the south of the country.
In an announcement today, the company said that its fish purchasing centers in the south of the country have been overwhelmed in recent days as fishing in the area has become strong over the past few weeks and fishing vessels around the country have used the centers in the area.
Mifco said that these centers have reached their freezing capabilities and are unable to weigh fish catch appropriately.
The company also said that following these shortcomings, starting today Mifco would only valuing 4 tons of fish caught from each vessel and that this would apply till next Monday.
Mifco also said that many fishing vessels are still in line to weigh their fish catch and that this change was brought as time is required to give these vessels a chance to weigh and freeze their catch.
The fisheries company said that this change does not apply to its fish weighing facilities in Kuddu or Addu and that queue numbers would be issued at these centers without any control.
Fishermen across the country agree that such control measures from Mifco hinder their livelihood, especially on strong fishing days.
The government had on many occasions promised to rectify these issues but fishermen say that authorities have done little to solve the problems.
