The Maldives is a group of about 1,200 islands separated into a series of coral atolls just north of the Equator in the Indian Ocean. Only 200 of the islands are inhabited.
There are about 2000 bait fishing grounds in the Maldives, and there are no restriction laid on any of these fishing grounds for any fishermen. No foreigner or a foreign fishing vessel is allowed to do bait fishing in the Maldives. There are protected areas in the Maldives where only bait fishing is allowed.
45 Fishing aggregation devices (FAD) have been installed by the government to assist pole and line fishermen. Hooked live bait cannot be used near these devices in a manner that affects the pole and line fishery for skipjack
Pole and line fishing – Tuna
Trolling - tuna like species
Long Lining- Yellow fin and Big eye tuna
Hand lining – reef fish
Purse seining
Using nets as fishing gear except for bait and certain reef fish
Using spear guns or dynamite
Using toxic substances like chlorine, Sheltox etc.
Go South Asia Page