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IPNLF and MNU collaboration on Livebait Research
The fieldwork of the Livebait Resource Mapping project started in February 2022 and so far 4 trips have been completed. During the last 4 months, the IPNLF team has visited the islands of Dh. Kudahuvadhoo, Dh. Bandidhoo, Dh. Meedho, Ga. Gemanafushi, Ga. Villingili, Ga. Dhevvadhoo, Ga. Kanduhulhudhoo and G.dh Gadhdhoo and interviewed skippers / fishers from 51 different vessels from these 8 islands. The survey covers interviewee and boat details, type of fishing, fisher’s experience in the field, methods of bait fishing, harvesting techniques, types of bait caught, challenges faced in bait fishing and environmental impacts, information on bait hold designs, bait transfer techniques, primary bait fishing grounds and any additional information which would be useful for the survey.
The information collected will allow us to develop use-intensity maps of live bait resources that would help facilitate conservation and management of popular live bait fishing grounds in the Maldives.
“This is the best income generator for supporting your family in The Maldives”
During our trip to Noonu Lhohi on May 22, 2022 for the SATLINK project, we had an unofficial meeting over cups of coffee with about 20 attendees from the island. One of the fishermen, Mr. Ahmed Abdulla, had previously given an interview to IPNLF regarding his shift to the fisheries sector from a previous employment. He had stated at that time that shifting to fisheries was the best decision as fishing is the best income generating form of employment in the Maldives. He stood up and thanked IPNLF personally, and on behalf of the fisher community in Noonu Lhohi, for working to help Maldivian fishers in various ways. He mentioned that this is the only organization that has come to Lhohi with a project involving fishers.
Meet Mr. Ahmed Abdulla and watch the video in the section in our Sourcing Transparency Platform (STP) of the Maldives Handline Yellowfin Tuna fishery page in which he speaks how “this is the best income generator for supporting your family in The Maldives”.
The Annual Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission held its 26th Annual Session on Eden Island, Seychelles from 16-20 May. Prior to the Annual Session, IPNLF released its Position Statement urging for a substantial catch reduction of at least 30% from 2020 levels (capping catches at 301,700 tonnes), essential to recover the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock within a reasonable timeframe of two generations (about 15 years) and Effective Management of Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFAD).
The meeting itself was held in hybrid mode, where only two members were allowed from each Member Delegation. Observers were listening remotely via Zoom. IPNLF and likeminded Blue Marine Foundation were present at the venue in a meeting room listening to the deliberations over the big screen.
A total of 17 proposals on wide ranging conservation and management measures were tabled by various CPCs; on revising the rebuilding of yellowfin tuna to accommodate the most recent scientific advice, on strengthening FAD management, on effective high-seas boarding and inspection, and on management procedures for bigeye tuna, among others. A great disappointment was that the two FAD proposals submitted by Kenya and co-proponents were accepted only as a presentation, on the grounds that they were submitted 24 minutes past the deadline.
Attempts at merging the Kenya-lead FAD proposal with EU-proposal on FADs were unsuccessful. A common ground was not reached and the proposal was withdrawn.
The Maldives proposal on taking climate change aspects when formulating future conservation and management measures was taken as an important step. “Our intention was also to provide credibility to sourcing research funding on climate change impacts in the IOTC” said Dr Hussain Sinan, the Alternate to Maldives Delegation and key architect of the Maldives proposals. Australian- lead proposal on management procedure for bigeye tuna was considered a major achievement. The Resolution will facilItate management of Indian Ocean bigeye tuna stock via a fully specified and pre-agreed suite management actions; the assessment model, stock reference points, and more importantly a harvest control. What is now required is ”an allocation or a mechanism to divvy the total allowable catch coming from regular stock assessments should application of the harvest control rules is required” says Martin Purves, Managing Director of IPNLF.
SATLINK Ghost gear project in N.Lhohi
Inspired by the Gemanafushi pilot project in removing non-native ALDFG from the ocean, IPNLF and Olive Ridley Project partnered again to implement a similar project in Noonu Atoll Lhohi with the aim of incentivising the removal of ghost nets from the ocean by one-by-one tuna fishers of N. Lhohi.
An outreach trip to N. Lhohi was conducted by IPNLF from 12-14 May 2022 to officially introduce the project to the community and see if the fishers would support the project.
During the trip the team met with the island council of Lhohi, the fishermen and also several NGOs of the island. We explained the role of IPNLF in Maldives and the project at hand; while highlighting the environmental importance of removing ghost gear from the oceans and how fishers can contribute to this initiative.
The meetings were fruitful and all the involved parties agreed to support the project. A second trip to Lhohi is in line to officially launch the project and start net collections.
IPNLF embarks on a fisheries harvesting sector social assessment
Since 2021, IPNLF-Maldives, together with the World Wise Foods (WWF, UK) have been conducting research on the ethical and social responsibility aspects of the fisheries sector. Global tuna markets, including tuna buyers, retailers, consumers, and even NGOs operating in the fisheries sector are increasingly becoming focused on the need to evidence ethical and human rights standards in the harvesting sector. This is because fishers working in some countries, or often operating on the high seas, are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, poor working conditions, and even at times, subject to modern slavery or human trafficking.
Maldivian tuna harvesting is generally low risk with its typical shorter fishing trips compared with other countries in Asia, and has unique elements such as its traditional, but fair system of share and catch allocation. In general, IPNLF-Maldives has also discovered through our years of field visits and observations, that Maldivian tuna fishers have direct community relationships with each other. For instance, most captains, and fishers could be relatives of the vessel owner, or they have direct links of kinship or friendship, whereby exploitation is very unlikely, and community benefits and income from fishing are evenly distributed and evidenced.
Moreover, fishers in Maldives also enjoy better incomes than from other employment sectors, and they generally earn above the minimum wage. IPNLF-Maldives is therefore attempting to capture these unique best practices and traditions in the Maldivian tuna harvesting sector, to promote our tuna products, and to maintain the value of our tuna in the premium markets. At the same time we also want to identify any challenges and potential risks, in order to prepare the Maldivian fisheries sector for upcoming market requirements to demonstrate ethical and social responsibility. For instance, Maldivian harvesting sector also employs migrant workers, whereby their working conditions, legality, as well as income satisfaction and access to a grievance mechanism need to be evidenced, just as much as we need to evidence the satisfaction and good working conditions of local fishers.
IPNLF-Maldives has currently engaged with MIFCO, Horizon Fisheries Pvt. Ltd, and ENSIS, to share the information about the need for the social assessment, and to secure support from the companies in undertaking this assessment.
We have also already trialed the survey in Dh.Kudahuvadhoo, Ga. Dhevvadhoo, Ga. Villingili, Ga. Gemanfushi and we plan to expand to Ha. Ihavandhoo, as well as survey fishermen at the fish landing sites in Ga. Koodoo, Lh. Felivaru, L. Maandhoo, and ENSIS Jetty.
We are very excited to continue with this data collection phase of the assessment, and we hope to capture unique information about the Maldivian harvesting sector, such as catch and share allocation system, fishers’ satisfaction with their income and working conditions, as well as getting their opinions on their grievances.
Our plan is to prepare a report, and share the findings of the report with fishers, fisheries industry, and the government. Our ultimate hope is to engage in productive discussions with the stakeholders on how to move forward with the findings, and how to better prepare our tuna sector for the developed markets, so that the premium value of our tuna is maintained.
Dr M. Shiham Adam