Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd (MIFCO) is set to relocate its fish processing factory from Kaafu atoll Kan’du Oiy Giri to Lhaviyani atoll Felivaru, with operations expected to begin next month.
In a statement to the media, MIFCO said that 90 percent of the relocation work has already been completed, and the remaining tasks, including the transfer of heavy-duty equipment, will be completed within five days. The equipment transfer will involve landing craft and cranes, MIFCO said.
Kan’du Oiy Giri was handed over to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) on August 4.
Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam stated that negotiations are underway with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to allocate land at Hulhumale’ Harbour for fishermen.
However, MIFCO clarified that no land has been secured in Hulhumale’ as of yet.
“We are in discussions with HDC in coordination with the Fisheries Ministry. We hope to secure a plot of land in Hulhumale’ in exchange for Kan’du Oiy Giri and will announce details as soon as an agreement is reached,” MIFCO said.
Kan’du Oiy Giri had housed a MIFCO facility dedicated to yellowfin tuna fisheries. Although the facility had operated long term, it had not presented sufficient solutions to the issues faced in yellowfin tuna fisheries. One of the main reasons behind the relocation is troubles faced by fishing vessels in approaching and docking at the island.
Minister Shiyam earlier said that financial assistance had been received from abroad for the fish packing factory, which can now be utilized at the new setup in Hulhumale’.