The Maldives are a well-known hotspot of marine biodiversity. In this area, FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) are managed by the government and mainly used by Maldivian pole-and-line fisheries. The Maldivian FAD network includes about 50 FADs evenly distributed across the atolls. The Maldivian pole and line tuna fisheries, which represent the country’s second-largest source of employment after tourism, account for 25% of the total skipjack tuna catches in the Indian Ocean. Monitoring pelagic species in this country is key to ensure the sustainability of these fisheries and the conservation of marine ecosystems.
Picture of the MOOBYF system deployed at a Maldivian FAD and pole and line Maldivian fishers.
Contact info
Maldivian coordinator
Dr. Riyaz Jauharee, Dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
The Maldives National University, Republic of Maldives
Email: riyaz.jauharee@mnu.edu.mv
Website: https://mnu.edu.mv
