Seventeen fishing vessels have so far expressed interest in participating in the upcoming Maldives Tuna Race, scheduled to take place from December 5 to 6, 2025.

The competition is being held in celebration of the anniversary of the Keyolhunge Lobby and Fishermen’s Day.

The Maldives Tuna Race is open to fishing vessels engaged in pole-and-line fishing and is designed to strengthen bonds among fishing families while promoting traditional fishing practices. The race will be held at MIFCO’s Kooddoo Fisheries Complex, where participants will have 24 hours to fish. Winners will be selected based on the total weight of the catch.

Only vessels registered in the National Fishermen's Register and holding valid fishing licences issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources will be eligible to participate.

President of the Keyolhunge Lobby, Shafga Shafeeg, stated that the highest number of applicants so far come from Huvadhu Atoll, followed by Laamu Atoll and Addu City. She noted that the goal is to secure participation from 50 vessels representing all atolls of the Maldives.

The race offers attractive cash prizes to encourage participation and highlight the value of the traditional fishing sector. The champion vessel will receive MVR 100,000, while second and third place winners will receive MVR 50,000 and MVR 25,000 respectively. An additional prize of MVR 5,000 will be awarded to the vessel that finishes first.

The deadline to register for the race is Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Interested fishing vessels may submit the application form to the Keyolhunge Lobby office or send it by mail.

Keyolhunge Lobby, a registered non-governmental organisation, advocates for the rights of fishermen and the development of fishing communities across the Maldives.