The Parliament has passed amendments to the Fisheries Act proposed by the Government.
The bill was submitted by Thimarafushi South Parliamentarian Mohamed Alsan Ahmed on behalf of the Government. Parliament passed the bill with amendments proposed by the Committee on Economic Affairs.
The amendments revise and strengthen provisions relating to administrative action against fishing vessels and other parties operating in violation of the Fisheries Act, as well as the rules governing permitted types of fishing. The Government also proposed making fishing for protected fish species a criminal offence under the Act.
The bill sets out fines for such offences and includes further amendments intended to address difficulties encountered in enforcing the law.
Under the proposed amendments, the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources may authorise fishing for additional species within Maldivian territorial waters. The species authorised for fishing must be gazetted publicly, along with the conditions and procedures governing their fishing and the applicable fees.
Fishing for protected fish species will remain prohibited, even where fishing for other species is permitted. Fishing within a protected area will also be prohibited unless it concerns a permitted species and is carried out in accordance with the prescribed rules. Any fishing in such an area outside those circumstances will likewise be considered prohibited.
A person found fishing for a protected species may be fined approximately USD 32,425. Exporting such a species may carry a fine of approximately USD 64,851.
The bill also provides for the ministry to authorise the development of designated ports for fisheries-related activities. It further establishes procedures for dealing with foreign vessels subject to administrative action for carrying out activities prohibited under the Act, including measures to be taken based on the country to which a vessel belongs.
In addition, the amendments include provisions setting out penalties for other offences related to fisheries.
The amendments were passed unanimously, with 59 MPs voting in favour.