Fisheries Ministry sets export quota for sea cucumber processors

The Fisheries Ministry has set an export quota for sea-cucumber processors following the determination of export capacity for the species.

In a statement, the ministry said the species was added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at the 2022 conference. Species listed under Appendix II can only be exported with a special permit issued by the national CITES Management Authority. The permit is granted based on a “non-detrimental finding” (NDF) prepared by the scientific authority, confirming that harvesting and export will not harm the species’ population and is sustainable.

The Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), the Scientific Authority of Maldives, has now completed the NDF for the giant sea-cucumber fishery and determined the allowable export capacity.

The ministry said it is currently formulating a scale to allocate the quota among processors who have exported sea cucumbers during the past three years and hold valid processing licences issued by the ministry.

The ministry has urged those who have not yet obtained a processing licence to apply through the Keyolhu Portal before the 20th of this month.

For further information, the ministry can be contacted at 3322625 or via email.