MDP President Abdulla Shahid has called for the immediate release of payments to fishermen, in return for the fish bought by MIFCO.

While the he Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) - a trade Union of yellowfin tuna fishermen - launched protests across the country today against the works to commercialize longline fishing in the Maldives, fishermen in Madaveli are protesting due to delays in payments for their catch.

In a post on X, Shahid said the government came to power promising to deposit money for the fish caught by the fishermen within two days. The government should listen to the protests of the fishermen and pay MVR 80 million owed by MIFCO for the fish caught by the fishermen immediately.

Shahid said the fishermen have been protesting for several months after the government did not pay them millions of rufiyaa earlier this year.

Shahid added that although there is no further election on the horizon at the moment, he called on the government to fulfill the right of the fishermen immediately.