Maldivian Yellowfin Tuna Fisheries Earn MSC Certification, Unlocking New Markets

Maldivian yellowfin tuna pole-and-line and handline fisheries received Marine Stewardship Council certification on March 24, closing a nine-year gap since the Maldives lost that same status in 2017 when Indian Ocean yellowfin stocks were assessed as depleted. The Maldives Seafood Processers and Exporters Association (MSPEA) announced the certificate issuance, calling it "an important milestone in the Maldives fisheries industry, ensuring sustainability and supporting local livelihoods."

The certification covers pole-and-line and handline yellowfin tuna in addition to the already-certified pole-and-line skipjack, which has carried MSC status continuously since 2012 and is now in its third certification cycle. That skipjack precedent made the Maldives a recognized name in the MSC-certified tuna trade; yellowfin certification now rounds out the country's flagship export species under the blue ecolabel.

The 2017 withdrawal followed a finding of depleted yellowfin stock in the Indian Ocean, and the Maldives, operating under the jurisdiction of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), was bound by that determination. What reopened the door was 2024 IOTC scientific research showing no current overfishing of yellowfin in the Indian Ocean.

The road back involved serious conservation work. MSPEA carried out a Fisheries Improvement Project starting from 2021, with all biannual assessments achieving an "A" grade, including strong results in stock sustainability and rebuilding, reducing the environmental impact of fishing, and uplifting human rights and social responsibility standards. Separately, Maldivian fishermen, processors, and the government joined forces in 2019 for three national campaigns dedicated to reducing yellowfin tuna catch, and MSPEA claims the nation's fleet reduced its catch by five times the IOTC requirement during that period.

The gear methods themselves are central to the certification's credibility. Mohamed Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of Horizon Fisheries, put it plainly: "The Republic of Maldives is the only country in the world that does not allow any fishing methods other than pole and line and handline." That constraint, often cited as an economic limitation, now functions as a market differentiator. Pole-and-line and handline are recognized for their selectivity and minimal bycatch compared to purse seine and longline operations that dominate industrial yellowfin harvests elsewhere.

With MSC certification in place, Maldivian yellowfin can now be supplied to large-scale retail markets, particularly in Europe, where certified seafood products are in demand. The certification is expected to support more structured supply arrangements compared to existing transaction-based trade. Given the limited global availability of MSC-certified yellowfin tuna, the development is expected to support stronger and more consistent demand for Maldivian products.

The stakes extend well beyond export revenues. The Maldives tuna fishery supports the livelihoods of over 30 percent of the nation's population, the country ranks highest globally in tuna consumption at 163 kilograms per capita, and 70 percent of its exports are tuna products. The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources framed the development in those terms, stating that "as the main fisheries product in the country are now MSC certified, this is a major breakthrough for sustainable fishing in the Maldives."

MSPEA has also used the certification moment to press a broader regional argument, warning that rising yellowfin catches by other Indian Ocean fleets undermine countries that strictly follow IOTC resolutions. "Rewarding Maldives for its efforts and achievements will incentivize other fleets operating within the Indian Ocean to follow suit, and ultimately help achieve the objective of reducing yellowfin tuna catches within the Indian Ocean to sustainable levels," the association stated. With MSC-certified yellowfin now scarce on global markets, the Maldives is positioned to demonstrate that restrictive, low-impact methods can translate directly into premium market access.