Rainbows of colourful fish are passed from dhonis to shore. For a moment light breaks through evening clouds, revealing a white tailed tropical bird perched on the rim of an old fishing vessel, riding waves made by the onslaught of the returning boats. The market place is alive with activity. Office workers in white shirts and ties ride away guiding bicycles with one and holding skipjack in the other. Trolleys loaded with fresh tuna or skipjack move door to door sales.
Newspaper lines the boot cars whose drivers have stopped off to make a seafood selection.
Fishing provides a sizeable proportion of the gross domestic product and job opportunities for the vast majority of the island population. With abundant sea resources, fish exports continue to grow. Multinational companies have shown a renewed interest in the Maldives fishing industry. Tons of fish are used domestically and not surprisingly, fish is the main source of protein for the inhabitants of the archipelago. The State Trading Organisation had played a significant role in rebuilding the tuna cannery in the island of Felivaru.