Mandate

1. Formulate policies for the sustainable development of fisheries, mariculture and other marine resources while promoting growth in these industries.

2. Set national goals and targets for the development of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource industries, and undertake efforts to secure the necessary financial and technical resources to achieve these milestones.

3. Formulate, implement, and monitor master plans, strategic plans, and action plans for the development of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource industries in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

4. Provide technical assistance to the relevant authorities in formulating laws that promote the sustainable development of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources.

5. Develop, implement and enforce the regulations mandated under the Act No. 2019/14 - Fisheries Act of Maldives.

6. Establish and monitor standards for the sustainable use of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources.

7. Conduct research to establish an industry in mariculture in the country and provide technical advice on mariculture development for the private sector.

8. Plan and implement projects aimed at improving the economic and social conditions in fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource sectors.

9. Explore opportunities for expanding fisheries through modern technology while enhancing benefits for fishermen.

10. Plan, monitor, and evaluate infrastructure projects aimed at the development of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources.

11. Identify the potential risks that climate change poses to fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource dependent industries, and implement necessary measures to mitigate the adverse impacts while enhancing the economic benefits derived from these industries.

12. Conduct analyses of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources to maximize their benefits

13. Facilitate easy access to financial and technical assistance, along with other necessary facilities and services, for those engaged in fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource industries.

14. Conduct research aimed at developing fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource industries, with a focus on increasing productivity and the variety of products produced by these sectors.

15. Explore market opportunities for fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource products nationally and internationally.

16. Formulate and implement regulations to allow for the analysis and study the marine environments, including the sea and seabed, for the purpose of developing fisheries, mariculture, and other economically beneficial activities.

17. Establish rules and regulations to permit the exploration and study of marine fauna, except in protected areas and concerning species under Act No. 4/93 (Protection and Preservation of the Environment Act), while allowing for such experiments and studies.

18. Lease, monitor, and manage the uninhabited islands, lagoons, micro-atolls, submerged shoals, and shallow coastal areas and other marine ecosystems outside of the island jurisdiction for fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource activities.

19. Monitor the performance of state-owned companies engaged in the fisheries sector to ensure alignment with the policy objectives set by the government.

20. Strengthen the skills and capacity of the labor force working in the fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources.

21. Identify the technical skills and manpower required for fisheries, mariculture and marine resource to development and collaborate with relevant institutions to optimize the utilization of fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources.

22. Establish a fisherman’s registry with the support of relevant authorities/institutions and develop a mechanism to update the registry.

23. Increase public awareness regarding the diverse economic gain/livelihood and employment opportunities in the fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource industries.

24. Collect, collate and analyze economic and social data related to fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resources, compiling and publishing reports on the findings.

25. Coordinate with development partners from different countries, international, regional, subregional organizations, commissions, NGOs, unions, and committees relevant to the mandates of the ministry and establish a mechanism to seek assistance and collaborations.

26. Participate in international agreements, treaties, and protocols in alignment with those that the Maldives has endorsed, to maximize the benefits for the country in areas pertinent to the Ministry’s mandate

27. Provide essential technical support to authorities for integrating information about the fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource sectors into the national education system.

28. Conduct and oversee the activities of the Ministry in accordance with its established functions and objectives.

MANDATESOFTHEMALDIVESMARINERESEARCHINSTITUTE(MMRI)

The Maldives Marine Research Institute operates under the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.

1. Collect, collate and document scientific knowledge about various environments in the country, including the sea, isolated reefs and micro-atolls, lagoons, submerged shoals, and shallow coastal areas to develop fisheries, mariculture, and other economic activities related to the ocean.

2. Catalogue, publicize and disseminate information available on the country's oceans, isolated reefs, micro-atolls, submerged shoals, and other relevant marine environments.

3. Study and monitor the marine life associated with the fisheries and mariculture industries and create awareness on species and ecosystems facing extinction and decline in the marine environments.

4. Provide essential technical guidance to relevant authorities to preserve and maintain marine life that is at risk of decline or extinction within the ocean areas of the country’s jurisdiction.

5. Conduct necessary research to ensure that various fish estuaries in the Maldives are managed in a way that does not harm the local populations or their environment, and offer technical advice to the Ministry of Fisheries based on these studies, aligning fisheries statistics with the findings.

6. Ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources, provide relevant authorities with the scientific knowledge needed to develop ecosystem-based management policies for these resources.

7. Conduct research and offer technical advice on the development of the mariculture sector in the country.

8. Provide technical recommendations to authorities on managing the reefs to better understand changes occurring in the country's reef ecosystems.

9. Equip the Ministry with the necessary scientific knowledge and technical support for formulating policies related to fisheries, mariculture, and other marine resource development.

10. Actively participate in the activities of international organizations related to fisheries, mariculture, and the economic benefits of the ocean, promoting scientific advancement in this field and providing essential information to these organizations.

11. Organize training programs to raise public awareness about the scientific research conducted by the Institute on various environments in the country, including the sea, submerged shoals, and shallow coastal areas, as well as the protocols for these studies.

12. Initiate efforts to enhance public awareness regarding the country's marine environments, including the sea, isolated reefs, micro-atolls, lagoons, submerged shoals, and the organisms that inhabit these environments.

13. Plan and implement training programs to develop professionals in the fields of fisheries and mariculture.

14. Collect and manage data obtained from studies of the marine environment conducted by private entities in the Maldives.

15. Publish information about the country's oceans, isolated reefs, micro-atolls, lagoons, submerged shoals, shallow coastal areas, and the life forms found within these ecosystems.