The fishermen protesting saying that the challenges they are facing are getting worse has said that even though they are stopping the protests for now, they will be restarting them stronger and in a way that the President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih can hear them.

A group of fishermen have been protesting in Felivaru since yesterday morning where the participants of the rally were demanding fair price for the fish and not to drop the price of fish below MVR 20. They were also calling to arrange easy ways to weigh and sell fish at Felivaru and bring Shaviyani Atoll Keekimini island under the control of the Maldives Industrial Fishing Corporation (MIFC).

The protesters at the rally called on the President to listen to their concerns and work with them to resolve and address the challenges they are facing.

A leading protester at the rally told One Online that they stopped the 13 hour protest because they did not want a confrontation with the police. After the fishermen went on the island, more officers with police shields went to the island in the evening and ordered to leave the island in 15 minutes or they would be forced out.

“We were first in the Falivaru lagoon to protest. We told the police that we did not come for a war or cause damage. That we came to get our fair share. About 25 boats of fishermen were here (Felivaru) yesterday. Fishermen got angry when no senior person on Felivaru heard us; for pretending not to hear us. For not even coming to see what we are saying here. That is why we went on land.” The fisherman who spoke to One Online said.

He said that although the protest have come to an end for now, they will continue to protest until President Solih hears them and the demands of the fishermen are addressed. He said that this was a start and if the fishermen’s demands go unheard, a stronger rally will be held in the future in way that the President hears them.