A two-day national consultation on executing of the BOBLME Phase II project in Maldives is underway at the Naifaru Island from 12-13 August 2024. The meeting is jointly organised by the IUCN and BOBP-IGO under the project with support from the Government of Maldives.
Inaugurating the meeting, Mr Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Fisheries & Ocean Resources, Government of Maldives said that Maldives fisheries has always been renowned for its sustainability. We have been blessed with abundant resources in our waters and our forefathers have respected their power and understood its fragility. The baton of this legacy has been passed from them to us, and I believe we should pass it on to our children.
Empowering fishers in the management of fisheries is an important policy of the government. In the past, fishers were involved in the formulation of the fisheries Act, but it is important to also involve them fully in the implementation of these regulations and management regimes. I believe this project gives the opportunity to do that, and I am very grateful to BOBP-IGO and IUCN for facilitating that for us.
Earlier on behalf of BOBP-IGO and IUCN, Dr. P Krishnan and Ms Maeve Nightingale welcomed the participants and explained the project objectives and work plan.
The venue for the meeting which is located in Lhaviyani Atoll is also a prospective site for EAFM and MMA.
