MPL port to offer water, electricity for fishermen: Rishwan

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Managing Director Mohamed Rishwan has announced last night that water, electricity and other required services will be provided to fishermen at the port designated for them.

The announcement comes after the remaining sector of the North Harbour, extending up to in front of the fish market, has been placed under the jurisdiction of MPL. MPL earlier announced that a specific sector of this port will be reserved for fishing vessels, which can dock there free of charge.

A meeting was held last night to inform fishermen of the changes being brought to port management. At the meeting, Rishwan said that priority will be given to organize port operations in line with fishermen's needs. MPL staff will be active in the area over the coming weeks to gather feedback and to gauge the challenges faced by fishermen, he said.

Once the challenges are learnt, MPL will work to provide some form of solutions, Rishwan said, with efforts set to begin from next week onwards.

Further, according to Rishwan, MPL will identify those guilty of wrongful use of the port area and evict them, thereby increasing the space allocated for fishermen.

"We are also working to provide water and electricity at the eastern side of the port, the same as we have done in the A Zone," he said.

In addition to this, Rishwan also revealed plans to work on facilitating access to ice and fuel for fishermen docked at this port.

About thirty fishermen attended this meeting held at MPL offices last night. They shared with MPL officials the current challenges faced at the fishermen's port.

No fees for fishing vessels docking in front of fish market: MPL