The government has merged the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, creating a single portfolio now titled the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources.
The restructuring forms part of a broader cabinet reorganisation that reduced the number of ministries to 15. The changes followed the resignation of 10 ministers, after which a new cabinet was constituted and sworn in at a ceremony held at the President’s Office.
Ahmed Shiyam has been appointed to lead the newly merged ministry. While most ministers took their oath of office during Tuesday evening’s ceremony, Shiyam was not present at the time. A separate ceremony was held the following day, where he was sworn in and formally assumed his duties under the revised mandate.
The merger brings agriculture under the administration of the fisheries portfolio, consolidating responsibilities related to food production and marine resources within a single ministry. However, the restructuring has also resulted in the removal of animal welfare from the ministry’s mandate.
Animal welfare responsibilities had previously been managed under the agriculture portfolio, including oversight of facilities such as the Olhu Hiyaa cat shelter in Hulhumalé. It remains unclear which institution will assume responsibility for these functions following the changes.
