Maldives Yellowfin Tuna Fishers’ Union: 50 Boats Join the rally to demand Fair Prices and Local Sourcing of Tuna

by IUF Asia/Pacific | Dec 10, 2025 | Environment, Food Security, Human Rights, Sustainable Fisheries, Sustainable Tourism

On 10 December 2025, the IUF-affiliated Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU), the Yellowfin Tuna Fishers’ Union in the Maldives, renewed its call for the government to enforce fair prices for their catch as previously committed. This year, the action grew significantly, with 50 boats with over 500 members joining the rally highlighting the pressure on fishers’ and their families’ incomes and livelihoods. BKMU members use handline methods to catch yellowfin tuna sustainably, avoiding over-fishing and protecting the ocean ecosystem.

Following repeated actions by BKMU, the government committed to buy yellowfin tuna at a fair price to protect fishers’ livelihoods. However, despite continued calls, this commitment has not been implemented.

This year, the IUF-affiliated Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM) joined BKMU in calling on the government to prioritize locally and sustainably sourced seafood to be served in the resorts. Their join proposal supports the BKMU members, their families and the local communities as well as the Maldives government’s international commitments.

“We are catching sustainably sourced seafood here in the Maldives, yet resorts are flying in frozen fish from thousands of miles away. It damages the environment but also the livelihoods of local communities. Serving locally sourced seafood across, more than 200, resorts is more environmentally, economically, socially, and ethically sustainable.” Mauroof Zakir, TEAM General Secretary

Both unions emphasize that government action on pricing and local sourcing is essential to meeting the Maldives’ commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their demands align with SDG 8.9 and SDG 12.b (Decent Work & Responsible Consumption and Production), ensuring fair income and decent livelihoods for fishers while promoting sustainable tourism. Encouraging resorts to source locally is a concrete step toward fulfilling these obligations, reducing the carbon footprint of imports, and supporting sustainable fishing methods.

SDG 13 and SDG 14 (Climate Action & Life Below Water) are deeply interconnected in the Maldives. Fair prices help secure the future of responsible fishing, while local sourcing by resorts reduces emissions and protects marine biodiversity.

“Our members care fighting to protect their livelihoods and the local communities.  Allowing unfair pricing that undermines handline fishing directly contradicts government’s commitment. We want the government to fulfill it’s promise of fair price and promote locally sourced seafood.” Hussain Nasheed, BKMU President

BKMU and TEAM are urging the government to invest in small-scale processing facilities through which resorts can source tuna directly from within the Maldives. Such facilities would create local employment, sustainable food, and increase income for fishers and local community.

What’s good for fishers’ and their families is also good for Maldives.