The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, has announced that the Government will deploy 36 additional fish aggregating devices (FADs) across the country this year as part of its efforts to support the fisheries sector.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister confirmed that the deployment of these FADs is in line with the 2025 State budget. He stated that the goal is to strategically place the devices so that multiple islands can benefit, while ensuring that fishermen do not have to travel more than six miles to reach them.

The Minister also revealed that over 80 requests have been submitted for sports fishing aggregating devices. In response, the Government is conducting research to establish a specialised network dedicated to sports fishing.

Additionally, the Government is establishing FAD centres in both the northern and southern regions of the country to strengthen fisheries infrastructure, with work already underway in Shaviyani Funadhoo.