The fisheries sector is one of the main foreign exchange earning sectors. Although the fisheries sector’s contribution to GDP has fallen from 16.11% (1984) of GDP to 11.8% (1994) it remains the third largest sector after trade and tourism. The value of the fisheries sector’s contribution has increased from Rf 85.0 Million in 1984 to Rf 149.5 Million in 1994. This is largley due to the replacement of traditional sail boats by mechanised boats and also to the use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). Furthermore the recent opening up of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Maldives for fisheries and the increase in the number of vessels in this zone has enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector.