A growing industry

“Fishing is the lifeblood of our nation, it is innate to us. From the ground we live on to the sea around us, it remains an essential part of our existence. Fisheries, our country and our people are one and should remain inseparable.” This inscription can be found on the building of the fish cannery on Felivaru (Lhaviyani-Atill), which was built in 1977. This is a response to the Sri Lankan government's boycott against the export of hikki mas (fibrous dried fish). The government of the Maldives under Ibrahim Naseer had to introduce a new way of processing fish.

Tuna production in the Maldives is now known worldwide. The approximately 55 tons of tuna that are bottled every day mainly go to the European market. In 1988, exports of canned fish were a whopping 2.740 tons. There is another cannery in the south of the country. However, its production does not yet come close to that of Felivarus. The tuna must be processed as quickly as possible after the fishermen bring them to the factories in the evening. The island is dotted with cold storage facilities, workshops, canteens and accommodation for the approximately 500 employees, so nothing stands in the way of rapid processing. Since there is no net fishing in the Maldives, you can be sure to find pure tuna in cans. Sometimes in connection with the Maldivian fishing industry one speaks of amber (also ambergris), which is very valuable and rare. Amber is a metabolic product from the intestines of sperm whales and, like musk, is used in the perfume industry. There are now synthetic substitutes, but the original is still very popular. This rather unsightly and foul-smelling product sometimes floats on the water or lies on the beach. Anyone who finds a piece should count themselves lucky: according to rumors, more than 1 million rufiyas were once paid for a block of amber weighing 90 kg.