Author: Aishath Shazra

The ministry of fisheries and agriculture plans to introduce drag line fishing to Maldives, in a departure from the traditional pole and line fishing used in the country.

The proposed ‘long line’ fishing involves a horizontal drag line with many baited hooks left out for a couple of hours. Unlike pole and line fishing, environmentalists claim this method produces lots of ‘by-catch’, including turtles, sharks and sea birds.

“We are going for multi-gear fisheries, where some will adopt the long line method and others will continue with pole and line” says State Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Hussain Rasheed.

Increasing fish catch

Dr Rasheed says the decision stems from an urgent need to diversify the fishing industry.

“In our fishing fleet, boats that are bigger than 85 feet are moored at ports for months at a stretch as oil prices are too expensive,” he explains. These boats need to catch up to 2-3 tonnes of fish just to justify costs.”

He reasons long line fishing will increase the fish catch, saying “even though research has shown that yellow fin tuna is decreasing in the Indian Ocean, we have a robust and healthy skipjack stock.”

Across the spectrum all industry shareholders agree there is a need to counter act the decrease in fish catch.

Deputy Managing Director of Horizon fisheries one of the leading fish exporters in the country, Mohamed Rasheed (Mooshid) says since 2006 the fish catch has been on the decrease.

“In this economic crisis we need to find ways for boats to go out fishing, we need a new way of thinking.”

The problem of by-catch

Almost around the same time as the introduction of long line fishing, a total ban on shark export is going to come into effect next month.

Coincidentally, sharks also happen to be the biggest by-catch of long line fishing.

Environmentalists like Ali Rilwan, director of environmental NGO Blue Peace, finds this ironic.

“We are implementing a total ban and then starting something that is shark fishing by another name,” he says.

Rilwan maintains those who catch sharks now utilise almost the same method.

“The sharks are not going to know the bait is for other fish, and as the baits will be in deeper water it will attract the sharks.”

He also points out that with the ban on shark exports the by-catch will become a total waste, as shark fins and meat can’t be exported.

“And the larger problem is how we will be perceived; our fish export is marketed abroad as one that is caught through a dolphin and environmentally friendly method.”

Rilwan claims long line fishing will destroy this reputation.

UK department store retailer Marks and Spencer is a major buyer of Maldivian canned tuna. The company visited the Maldives recently and held extensive talks with stakeholders to establish that the fish was caught according to environmentally friendly methods.

Even Mooshid has reservations on the new method.

“Long line is not the best method, it’s not sustainable, and unlike pole and line there’s a lot of by-catch, and we will have a shark ban in March,” he says.

However he also adds he is at a loss to figure out the best method to counter the problem of decreasing fish catch.

Dr Rasheed agrees the by-catch issue is a problem but acknowledges the ministry will implement ways to mitigate it.

“There is an internationally-allowed level of by catch. All the countries do it, and it’s not like we are targeting the sharks intentionally.”

He says even now in the EEZ zone, the European fleets catch big-eyed tuna and yellow fin via nets.

“Even if we don’t others are harvesting it that way, meaning we are losing economically while they get an edge over us if we use only pole and line.”

Groups of five boats will be allowed 100 miles outside the economic zone to do long line fishing “or else we would have conflict with those who do pole and line.”

“Sharks might well be alive after four hours, as they won’t drown, so we will release them if they are alive, Rasheed says. “We will also take bird mitigating measures, and study the problems other countries have encountered with by-catch and find ways to reduce it.”

Rilwan thinks the damage that will be done to both the environment and the Maldives’ reputation will not be worth it.

“We should ask for preferential treatment from the EU for not being part of the problem that is depleting the yellow fin tuna stock,” he says, scoffing at the idea that sharks will be found alive. “Even dhonis are hardly going to get in between each line and release sharks. It will not be something that will be practiced.”

One of the architects of the shark export ban, environmental consultant Mari Saleem, says she can’t say whether sharks will be found alive after such a long while “fishermen say the sharks are dead when they find them.”

Mari says there is no way she can ask to stop the development of fisheries.

“The fisheries sector is encountering problems now, and someday new methods are going to be introduced so we might as well make sure that the least harm is done when these methods are practiced.”

She says expertise is needed to implement ways to lessen by-catch like using a specific type of bait hooks and other measures.

“The timing is difficult and it will be difficult for fishermen to adapt to this.”

Her talks with stakeholders also show that there is not much enthusiasm for long line fishing.

“The value of our fish export might go down, because we have marketed ourselves as doing environmentally friendly fishing.”

What to do with the by-catch also remains a problem and she floats the idea that like in the islands of Palau, the by-catch could be burned.

“The big question is, is it worth to take the risk of doing long line fishing, has the cost benefit analysis been done and a risk assessment taken?”

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Mariyam Wafa, 25, lives in a two bedroom flat. By changing the light bulbs in her sitting room to energy saving bulbs, she claims her electricity bill dropped by Rf200.

In most homes lighting accounts for 10 to 15% of electricity bills. Simply changing to energy saving light bulbs can save up to 80% of the energy of normal bulbs.

“We can’t give an exact figure for how much you can save as no studies have been done in Maldives, and different brands and lights differ,” says Ahmed Rauf, engineer of STELCO.

However he says it’s always better to buy trusted brands ‘to avoid getting a 10 watt bulb instead of the 5 watt one as mentioned, because we have come across such cases.”

At a time when Maldivians are paying high prices for the electricity they consume, unlike before when STELCO was largely subsidized by the state, it makes sense to look into ways to reduce household electricity consumption. The Maldives has also pledged to become the first carbon neutral country, and suddenly the issue of one’s own carbon foot print comes into play.

Renewable energy: long term benefits

Vice president Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has been using solar water heaters since 2003.

“We haven’t used any electricity for heating water in the last six years – the heated water from the solar heaters is enough for the usage of a couple,” says Dr Waheed.

The solar-heated water is used for washing, cooking and showering.

“On top of that, there has not been any need for maintenance work also.”

Dr Waheed envisages a future where the vice president’s residence is completely powered by renewable energy.

Ibrahim Ali works in his family-run business Renewable Energy Maldives (REM), and says solar panels can be used with or without electricity from the grid.

“You could either opt to use [just] solar panels by saving energy to a battery for use during the night time, or switch to normal electricity during night and use solar panels during the days only,” he explains.

One house that uses a grid-connected solar system is Maafanu Sunny lodge.

“We have cut about 50% off our electricity bill since the installation,” says a resident of the house.

“We are using it on one floor of the building and it caters for the electricity needs of our family of six.”

The system is programmed to automatically switch off at night and use normal electricity during the night time.

Ibrahim acknowledges that it is expensive to install solar panels. But he reasons if you take into consideration the 15 year lifespan of the panels and the cost of electricity, “it is worth it.”

“Switching to solar air conditioners is very possible in Male. For a three room apartment it costs around Rf23,000 to install,” he says, explaining that this would typically cut energy consumption by between 30% to 70%.

He takes the case of Happy Mart: “Their electricity bill hovered around Rf5000 before they made the switch. These days the maximum figure on their bill is Rf 2000.”

Though some houses and businesses are opting for solar powered air-conditioners, the demand for solar among residents in Male’ remains low.

“We have installed them in uninhabited islands and resorts,” he says.

He says the price of the panels remains a problem, largely because of the 20% import duty President Mohamed Nasheed has promised to waive but has yet to do.

Reducing the bill

Rauf from STELCO says simply changing a few habits and making an informed choice when buying electrical equipment can reduce a person’s electric bill.

“A room should be properly insulated and have curtains on windows if air-conditioning is used.”

He also says maintaining an optimal temperature throughout instead of minimizing it once you come in from outdoors will consume less energy.

“People oversee the fact that ceiling fans also waste a lot of energy if left on when nobody’s in the room.”

Appliances on standby mode are other culprits: “Computers and other things could be turned off at night time.”

Rauf recommends buying fridges with the right capacity, as “a 400 litre fridge is enough for a family of six.”

“Make sure you don’t put any hot items in it.”

Changing to a steam iron and making sure that its less than 1200 watts, and ironing clothes in one go are other ways to make sure less energy is consumed.

“A little more attention to all this minimizes the consumption of electricity.”

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