Fisheries Minister Cites Management Failures as Ice Plant Issues Persist

Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources Minister Ahmed Shiyam has revealed that ice plants transferred to Fenaka Corporation under a previous administration continue to face significant operational challenges. Speaking during a session of the Maldivian Parliament (the Majlis), the Minister noted that the facilities suffer from a lack of technical expertise among the staff assigned to manage them. Minister Shiyam explained that restoring these plants to full capacity would require an investment of millions. To address these systemic failures, the government has decided to replace some existing facilities with newly established ice plants. He criticized previous administrations for relying on temporary subsidies rather than investing in sustainable, long-term solutions to the sector's accumulated problems. To stabilize the industry, the government is working to increase ice production capacity, with work on 11 new plants expected to begin shortly. Additionally, the Minister outlined plans to expand fish storage capacity to 25,000 tonnes, allowing the Maldives to preserve catches from seasonal peaks and sell them in international markets at optimal prices. Efforts are also underway to introduce seawater-chilling systems directly onto fishing vessels. On the export front, the Minister highlighted the positive impact of the United Kingdom removing tariffs on Maldivian fish imports. This policy change, suspended until 2028, has provided exporters with a 20 percent benefit and fostered a more competitive buying market. The UK remains the Maldives' second-largest fish export market, with annual exports valued between GBP 16.7 million and GBP 18 million. This increased competition has benefited local fishers, with prices currently ranging from USD 1.30 to USD 1.43 per kilogramme across both state-run and private companies, including MIFCO, Horizon, and Ensis. Despite these gains, the Minister noted that limited fish-canning and storage capacity continues to hinder the ability to maximize prices for processed fish.