The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has revealed that the Government has installed 22 new Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to support local fisheries.

These include 12 FADs installed in 2024 and 10 deployed so far in 2025. There are currently two main types of FADs used in the Maldives - those designed for pole-and-line fishing, primarily targeting skipjack tuna, and those used for sports fishing.

According to the Ministry, a total of 101 FADs have now been deployed across the country, including 65 for pole-and-line fishing and 36 for sports fishing.

Alongside ongoing deployments, the Government is also working to expand FAD manufacturing, as the country’s sole facility in Hulhumalé has struggled to meet rising national demand.

To address this, the Ministry has announced plans to establish a second FAD centre in Shaviyani Funadhoo. Construction is expected to begin before December. Once completed, it will strengthen the national capacity to produce and deploy FADs across the country