Subsidy assigned for fishermen better spent on fisheries sector investments: Fisheries Minister

The MVR 100 million (US$6,497,730) assigned as subsidy for fishermen would be better spent on investments in the fisheries sector, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Ahmed Shafeeu has said.

Previous audit reports of Fisheries Ministry show that some subsidies were disbursed to vessels that never went fishing, and were not distributed fairly.

Shafeeu highlighted that fishermen are in need of funds for investments and the subsidy could be used to further-develop the fisheries industry.

He stressed the importance of assigning the subsidy in the budget, as it encourages fishermen to go fishing.

“We know from fishermen that they want ice plants and such things. It is a great concern for fishermen that they can’t get ice at low prices. Several investments like that, such as building ice plants, several things like that can be done with the money assigned as subsidy. That’s why I think the money could be better spent on those things,” he told Sun Online last week.

“I have shared this concern with the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee as well. I am hoping that this will be given priority when the budget is made,” he added.