Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Zaha Waheed has said that the laws that needed to be made under the new amendment to the Fisheries Act has been made and will go on the state gazette soon.

After the Ministry failed to make the laws within 90 days after the amendment took effect, the Parliament’s Law Committee in May decided that Minister Zaha has failed to fulfill her responsibility.

Talking on PSM’s “Raajje Miadhu” program last night, Minister Zaha said the fishing laws were delayed due to the COVID-19 situation. She said that as per a previous media briefing, the laws were sent to the Attorney General’s Office for review on 31 May 2020. And they have were sent for publication on the gazette on 14 July 2020.

Minister Zaha said that laws are now being reviewed for grammar and other clerical needs before publication.

On a Raajje TV program, Minister Zaha has previously said that before establishing the laws under the new amendment of the Fisheries Act, it is more important of the country to meet the conditions under the EU recommendation. The Fisheries Minister received heavy criticism following those remarks.