Addu City Council says the demarcation of the southern border lines of the Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ of the Maldives would encourage its fishermen who go on to the open waters for long-range fishing.
The Addu City Council said it welcomes the decision by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to legally determine the lines of the country's southern borders and allow the Maldives to enforce its territorial powers over the region.
Noting this region was previously not under the legal border of the Maldives, the Addu City Council said that many foreign fishing vessels have been taking advantage of the lax border.
It said that with the decision from ITOLS, the Maldives can now take affirmative action against those who fish in these waters and these actions would be within international laws and Maldivian laws.
The Council further said that the decision has further strengthened the economic rights of Maldivian fishermen and protected them too.
Addu City Council also lauded the government's foreign policies, saying that it was based on responsibly upholding international laws in a sustainable manner and the decision by ITOLS showed how much it respected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
