The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has confirmed that land has been allocated for the establishment of a second Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) centre in the Maldives, which will be located in Shaviyani Funadhoo. 

This is a significant step forward in the Government’s efforts to strengthen the fisheries sector.

Currently, the only operational FAD centre in the country is based in Hulhumalé. The limited number of such facilities has posed challenges for the ministry, particularly in the deployment and maintenance of FADs, which play a vital role in supporting sustainable fishing practices. To address this, the Government has announced plans to develop two additional FAD centres, one in the northern region and another in the south.

The first of these new centres will be constructed in Shaviyani Atoll, Funadhoo. According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, a 10,000 square foot plot has been earmarked for the project. Site clearance activities are currently underway in preparation for construction.

The ministry stated that the design for the new facility is expected to be finalised by next week. Once completed, the project will be opened for bidding. The ministry anticipates awarding the construction contract by July, with work on the centre to commence soon after. Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam had earlier indicated that the centre is expected to be completed within the year.

In addition to developments in the FAD programme, the ministry also provided information on traditional fishing methods. There are currently two types of FADs used for fishing, one for skipjack tuna and one for sports fishing. At present, there are 65 FADs for skipjack tuna fishing, with 26 designated for sports fishing purposes.