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Fishing improves on Huvadhu atoll but government collecting vessels disorganised and lack purchase funds Mohamed Yushau Viligili island Gaaf Alif or North Huvadhu atoll from Haveeru 8 December 2001 translated and edited by Maldives Culture editors Photo: Haveeru On the day of their best catch a problem had prevented fishermen from selling their fish, says the island office in Dhevvadhu, one of northern Huvadhu's best fishing islands. It was a day of excellent fishing throughout the atoll. 'What happened was that morning about 9 o'clock the fishermen brought their catch to the fish collecting vessels. The fishermen had made their catch at the floating raft out from Thinadhoo island, and they had to weigh and sell their fish to the collecting vessels in Thinadhoo harbour. The fishing boats from Thinadhoo were also there and there was a dispute. The Dhevvadhu fishermen had to wait until 5 p.m. to make their sale. By that time most of the fish had spoiled. It was a disastrous loss for the fishermen of this island and its people,' says Mohamed Didi the island chief of Dhevvadhu. According to Gemanafushi island office the fishermen can only sell part of their catch to the collecting vessels; the rest they try to sell on their island. The collecting vessels pay only very low prices for the slightly smaller fish, so the fishermen prefer to sell their fish to the islanders. 'Island people who buy fish in bulk pay the same price for fish of any size. They boil the fish and smoke dry them,' says Mohamed Nizam, Gemanafushi island chief. A whole year passed without any fishing in Huvadhu atoll. For the fishermen there was always one reason or another - no baitfish, bad weather, or no tuna to catch. People have been waiting a long time for the fishing to improve. The cost has been huge, and people have been living in extreme poverty. Shopowners have been complaining debts not being paid, and credit has stopped. This was why fishermen were longing for the catch to improve. According to the Fiyoari island office there has been good fishing but the fishermen from there have to take their catch to the collecting vessel at Maathodaa and Fares. 'It isn't too far but the fishermen are distressed because they don't get money for the fish. They only get a receipt for the size of their catch and the amount of money they are owed. They need money now,' says Mohamed Anees, island chief of Fiyoari. Viligili is another a good fishing island. Dhoanis (fishing boats) are catching about two or three tons of fish a day. 'Fishing is improving slowly. If God wills, it should keep improving in the future,' says a master fisherman from one of the island's larger dhoanis. The baitfish situation is also better now, so the hopes of the fishermen are becoming a reality. top

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