On a calm morning in the Maldives, a crew of a dozen men fans out along the gunwale of a 24-metre dhoni. Each holds a single bamboo pole fitted with a barbless hook. No nets. No lines trailing astern. They have been working this way for nearly a thousand years.
Pole and line fishing for skipjack tuna has been practiced for nearly 1,000 years in the Maldives — and it may be the most sustainable tuna fishery on Earth.
That longevity is not an accident. The method is so low-impact that the Marine Stewardship Council certifies it as sustainable, and the bycatch rate sits at 0.65% — compared to roughly 28% for longline tuna fishing. Yet the same ocean that sustains this tradition is changing fast. Coral bleaching, warming seas, and shifting monsoon patterns are testing a system that has worked since at least the 11th century.
Yes, fishing in the Maldives is far more than a job — it is the thread that ties communities to the sea, to their history, and to each other. But that thread is fraying. Climate change, global overfishing, and economic pressure are forcing hard questions about whether the pole and line tradition can survive another century. The answer matters far beyond the Maldives.
This article is for anyone curious about how a pre-industrial fishing method still feeds families, shapes identity, and offers a working model for sustainable seafood — and why it is under threat right now.
| Attribute | Pole and Line (Maldives) | Longline (Industrial) |
|---|---|---|
| Bycatch rate | 0.65% — mostly mahi mahi and rainbow runners sold to resorts | ~28% — often includes endangered sharks, sea turtles, seabirds |
| Sustainability certification | Marine Stewardship Council certified | Rarely certified; many fisheries face criticism |
| Days at sea per trip | Same day (return to port daily) | Weeks to months at sea |
| Selectivity | Targets skipjack tuna almost exclusively | Broad catch; many non-target species |
| Ecosystem impact | Low — minimal habitat damage, high survival of bycatch | High — habitat damage, overfishing of apex predators |
These numbers are not just statistics. They represent a cultural logic — a way of fishing that evolved to work with the ocean, not against it. But that logic is now colliding with forces no single fisher can control.
The Pole and Line Method — A Thousand-Year Rhythm
The technique is deceptively simple. Fishers stand along the sides of the dhoni, each holding a pole two to three metres long with a barbless hook and a feathered lure. When a school of skipjack tuna is located, the crew chums the water with live bait — usually sprats — to bring the fish to the surface. The tuna strike the lures, and the fishers swing them aboard in one motion. No nets. No deep lines. Nothing touches the seafloor.
Live bait is the engine of the whole operation. A crew may spend ten hours collecting 200 kilograms of sprats, using snorkellers when bait is scarce. Captain Ibrahim Hamid, who started fishing at 15 and has spent 30 years in the skipjack trade, described the process to the Guardian in 2025: the crew works six days a week, often spending up to 16 hours at sea. A successful week yields about 8,000 rufiyaa (roughly £400) for his share.
The crew catches live sprats — sometimes taking up to 10 hours to get 200kg. Snorkellers may assist when bait is scarce. Read the full account.
The crew releases live bait to attract a school of skipjack tuna to the surface. The fish go into a feeding frenzy, making them strike the lures.
Each fisher works a single pole with a barbless hook. The strike is swift; the fish is swung aboard in seconds. The barbless hook means minimal injury to the fish — and any undersized catch can be released alive.
The tuna are iced immediately on the dhoni and shipped to processing hubs. The boat returns the same day — unlike industrial vessels that stay at sea for weeks.
The process sounds almost romantic, but it is gruelling work. Six-day weeks, 16-hour days, and the constant uncertainty of finding fish. Yet the fishers I spoke with — through interviews and documented accounts — describe it with a kind of pride that goes beyond wages. It is a skill passed down, a relationship with the sea that defines who they are.
If you visit a local island harbour in the late afternoon, you can often watch the dhonis return with their catch. The fish auction that follows is a window into the community’s daily economy — bring a small notebook and observe quietly. Avoid taking photos of fishers without asking first; this is their workspace, not a show.
More Than a Paycheck — Fishing as Livelihood and Identity
Skipjack tuna is the Maldives’ top seafood export. More than 50,000 tonnes are shipped annually to Europe and North America, certified by the MSC as responsibly caught. But the fish is not just for export. Locally, tuna is dried, smoked, or simmered into garudiya — a clear broth that is the closest thing the Maldives has to a national comfort food. It is served with rice, lime, and chilli, and it appears on tables across every atoll.
The economics of pole and line fishing are structured around sharing. A typical arrangement splits the catch value three ways: one share goes to the dhoni owners (who cover the boat, fuel, and gear), and the remaining two shares are divided among the crew. This means that in a good week, Hamid takes home about 8,000 rufiyaa. In a bad week — when bait is scarce or the tuna have moved — the earnings drop sharply.
That variability is the norm. It always has been. But the range of that variability is widening.
For many Maldivians, fishing is not a career choice — it is the family inheritance. Hamid began at 15 because that is what his father and his father’s father did. The MSC fisher story notes that the ocean is central to Maldivian identity and livelihoods. That identity is now being tested by forces that no family tradition can control.
The Sustainability Paradox — Why This Method Matters Globally
The bycatch rate of 0.65% is not just a talking point — it is a structural feature of the method. Barbless hooks mean that non-target species can be released with minimal injury. The 95% of bycatch that is mahi mahi and rainbow runners is sold to resorts, and the rest goes back alive. A 2017 study in PLOS ONE confirmed these numbers through direct observation of fishing trips.
Compare that to longline fishing, where bycatch averages 28% and often includes endangered sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds. The World Wildlife Fund has documented the devastating impact of longline bycatch on marine ecosystems. The difference is not marginal — it is an order of magnitude.
But the Maldivian pole and line fishery faces a paradox. It is one of the most sustainable tuna fisheries in the world, yet it is also one of the most vulnerable to climate change. A report from Corporate Maldives found that coral bleaching, warming oceans, and unpredictable monsoon patterns have sharply reduced both baitfish and tuna in traditional fishing grounds. Fishers are forced to travel further and burn more fuel to find the same catch.
A common misconception is that all tuna fishing is equally destructive. In reality, the method matters enormously. Pole and line fishing is highly selective and low-impact; longline and purse seine fishing are not. Assuming all canned tuna is the same ignores the ethical and ecological gulf between these methods. Look for MSC-certified pole and line skipjack if you want to support the Maldivian tradition.
This is where the question gets harder. The pole and line method is not sustainable because it is traditional — it is sustainable because it is selective. But selectivity does not protect against the systemic collapse of fish stocks driven by industrial overfishing and climate breakdown. The fishers I read about are doing everything right, and the fish are still disappearing.
Context and Comparison — How Maldivian Fishing Measures Up
To understand what makes the Maldivian pole and line fishery unique, it helps to see it alongside the other major tuna fishing methods.
| Method | Bycatch rate | Selectivity | Days at sea | MSC certification | Primary gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pole and line (Maldives) | 0.65% | High — targets skipjack only | Same day | Yes | Single pole, barbless hook |
| Longline | ~28% | Low — catches many species | Weeks to months | Rare | Monofilament line with baited hooks |
| Purse seine | Variable (often high) | Moderate — targets surface schools | Days to weeks | Some | Large net that encircles the school |
The differences are not just technical. Each method represents a different relationship with the ocean. Longline and purse seine fishing are industrial operations designed to maximise volume at minimal cost. Pole and line fishing is a one-by-one method — each fish is caught individually, by hand, by a person standing on a boat that returns home every night.
Globally, about 5 million tonnes of tuna are caught each year. The Maldives accounts for roughly 1% of that total — but its pole and line fishery is one of the few that the MSC considers exemplary. The Maldives pole and line skipjack tuna fishery has been certified since 2012 and is regularly reassessed.
- The Maldivian pole and line method is one of the most selective and sustainable ways to catch tuna, with bycatch rates below 1%.
- Climate change is the biggest threat to this fishery — not overfishing by Maldivian boats, but the systemic collapse of baitfish and tuna stocks due to warming oceans and shifting monsoons.
- Supporting MSC-certified pole and line skipjack tuna is one of the few ways consumers can directly reward sustainable fishing practices in the Maldives.
Questions Readers Ask
Is Maldivian tuna really sustainable?
The Marine Stewardship Council certifies the Maldivian pole and line skipjack tuna fishery as sustainable. The bycatch rate is 0.65%, and the method targets skipjack almost exclusively. But sustainability is not a fixed label — it depends on continued monitoring and the health of the broader ecosystem, which climate change is undermining.
Why don’t Maldivian fishers use nets?
Pole and line fishing evolved in the Maldives because the geography and fish behaviour suited it. The atolls create narrow channels where tuna school near the surface, making them accessible to pole fishers. Nets were never part of the tradition. The method is also self-limiting — it cannot catch more fish than the crew can physically haul aboard, which naturally prevents overfishing.
How does climate change affect Maldivian fishing?
Coral bleaching, rising ocean temperatures, and unpredictable monsoon patterns have reduced the availability of both baitfish and skipjack tuna in traditional fishing grounds. Fishers now travel further and spend more on fuel to find the same catch. A 2024 report from Corporate Maldives details the economic impacts of these changes.
Can I visit a fishing community in the Maldives?
Some local islands welcome visitors to observe the daily catch. Look for islands with active fishing harbours — Maafushi, Dhiffushi, and Thulusdhoo are common starting points. Always ask permission before photographing fishers or boats. The guide to Maldivian history and heritage can help you plan your visit.
What is garudiya?
Garudiya is a clear tuna broth made by simmering skipjack with water, salt, and sometimes onion or garlic. It is the national comfort food of the Maldives, often served with rice, lime, and fresh chilli. Every atoll has its own variation, and the dish is a direct link to the fishing tradition — it is what families eat when the catch comes in.
The Future of the Pole and Line — A Tradition at a Crossroads
Captain Ibrahim Hamid has spent 30 years doing what his father did. His seven children have grown up around the dhoni, the poles, the smell of skipjack on ice. Whether any of them will take up the same work is an open question — not because the tradition lacks value, but because the ocean is no longer predictable.
The pole and line method is not a relic. It is a working model for how to catch food without destroying the ecosystem that provides it. That model is under threat from climate change, industrial overfishing, and the economic pressures that push young Maldivians toward tourism jobs instead of the sea. The question is not whether the tradition can survive unchanged — it never was static — but whether the conditions that allow it to function can be preserved.
For a deeper look at how Maldivian identity has been shaped by the sea, read Beyond the Beaches: A Deep Dive into Maldivian History and Heritage.
Sources and further reading
The Guardian. “Just a pole and line like they fished as boys: how a Maldives tradition is ensuring tuna stocks thrive.” 2025. 🔗
Marine Stewardship Council. “Maldives pole and line skipjack tuna fishery.” 🔗
Corporate Maldives. “Report: The Economic Impacts of Climate Change on the Maldives Fisheries Industry.” 2024. 🔗
PLOS ONE. “Bycatch assessment of the Maldivian pole and line tuna fishery.” 2017. 🔗
Related reading on IslandHopperGuides
Music of the Maldives: A Symphony of Sea, Wind, and Ancestral Voices — How the sounds of the ocean shape Maldivian musical traditions.
The Whispers of the Winds: Unraveling the Mystical World of Maldivian Folklore — Stories and beliefs that connect Maldivian communities to the sea.
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