Fishing activity has begun to recover following a sharp seasonal decline in recent weeks, with the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) now purchasing an average of 50 metric tonnes of fish per day.
MIFCO said catches are expected to increase further in the coming days as fishing conditions improve after the slowdown experienced during June.
The state-owned fisheries company said the most productive fishing grounds are currently around Lhaviyani Atoll.
The recent decline in fishing activity was reflected in the amount paid to fishermen for their catch. According to MIFCO, fishermen received USD 732,814 in June, the lowest monthly total recorded so far this year. In comparison, payments reached a peak of USD 5.11 million in April.
Payments made to fishermen during the first six months of the year were USD 2.61 million in January, USD 1.32 million in February, USD 1.90 million in March, USD 5.11 million in April, USD 2.01 million in May and USD 732,814 in June.
MIFCO attributed the decline to reduced fish abundance in Maldivian waters during the south-west monsoon. The company said fishermen received an average of less than USD 64,851 per day in June, while on some days payments for landed catch fell to around USD 12,970.
However, MIFCO noted that this is not unusual. Historical fishing data shows that June and August are traditionally among the slowest months for the Maldivian fishery. During the south-west monsoon, rough sea conditions and lower fish availability typically result in reduced catches every year.
The company said catches have now started to improve following the seasonal slowdown in June. It said purchases are currently averaging 50 metric tonnes per day, with volumes expected to increase further in the coming days. At present, the most productive fishing grounds are around Lhaviyani Atoll, according to MIFCO.
Despite the seasonal downturn, MIFCO recently increased the price it pays for fish after the United Kingdom removed tariffs on Maldivian tuna exports. Since 9 June, the company has been purchasing fish delivered to its collection centres at USD 1.29 per kilogram.