The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has announced the deployment of 22 additional Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) as part of the government’s broader effort to enhance access to key fishing grounds and bolster the country’s marine infrastructure.
According to the ministry, 12 FADs were deployed last year, while 10 more have been installed so far in 2025, raising the total number of active FADs in Maldivian waters to 101. The expansion reflects the government’s continued commitment to supporting a vital economic sector and improving the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The national FAD network is divided into two core categories: 65 units classified as ‘Dhoshi Kandhufathi,’ which cater primarily to pole-and-line fisheries such as skipjack tuna, and 36 ‘Vadhu Kandhufathi’ devices intended for reef and sports fishing, which also support recreational and tourism-based activities.
Officials explained that ‘Dhoshi Kandhufathi’ devices are strategically placed for offshore tuna harvesting using longline and pole-and-line methods. Meanwhile, the reef-oriented FADs are optimized for fisheries targeting reef species and are also increasingly used in recreational angling.
Despite the increased deployment, the ministry acknowledged that a single installation centre in Hulhumalé continues to limit operational capacity, given the geographical expanse of the Maldivian archipelago. To mitigate this challenge, the government plans to establish two additional installation hubs — one in the north and one in the south. Construction on the northern facility, located in Funadhoo, Shaviyani Atoll, is expected to begin before the end of the year.
The ministry emphasized that these measures are essential to modernizing the sector and ensuring equitable access to marine resources across the atolls. The expansion of the FAD network is part of a larger fisheries development strategy that includes infrastructure upgrades, enhanced access to financing, and long-term sustainability planning.
