Commercial fishing

The commercial fishing industry in the Maldives is the largest source of employment in the country, engaging around 20% of the total workforce, from fishermen, traders, processors and ancillary workers.





Tuna fishing has always been the main activity in this sector, however some reef species are now being commercialy fished, such as groupers, snapper, lobster, sea cucumbers and aquarium fish.


While tuna stocks have yet to be assessed they are by far the most abundant and most heavily fished species.


For Maldivian fishermen the use of nets is prohibited, and as they have to use a pole and line, this traditional method avoids over fishing.


A tuna processing plant located in Felivaru buys tuna from the fishermen and also run a fleet of boats that collect tuna from throughout the country, the same boats also sell fuel to the fishermen.


Return from commercial fishing to Maldives fishing


Return to game fishing