With only days remaining before the start of Burunu Lite Addu Edition (Ronda Masrace 1447), anticipation is continuing to build across Addu City as 24 teams prepare to compete in the one-day sport fishing tournament scheduled for 28 May 2026 in Maradhoo. The event is being organised by Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) in partnership with the Equatorial Fishing Club (EFC), bringing together anglers, communities, and tourism stakeholders for a competition that reflects both the Maldives’ rich maritime traditions and the growing value of sport fishing within the country’s visitor economy.
The upcoming tournament marks the first regional edition of the BurunuBoma fishing tournament series to be hosted in the southern atolls, extending the experience beyond its established international professional format and making it accessible directly to island communities. This regional expansion is expected to create wider opportunities for local participation while also highlighting Addu City as an attractive destination for marine leisure, community-based events, and authentic coastal experiences. As one of the Maldives’ most distinctive destinations, Addu offers a setting that combines natural beauty, strong seafaring heritage, and a vibrant local atmosphere, making it a fitting host for an event of this nature.
A total of 24 teams from Addu and other areas will participate in the tournament, reflecting strong interest and broad engagement from across the fishing community. The competing teams are KGF, Rahaa, Vadhu Keyolhu, Southern Anglers, Team Raskuri, Dark Salt (AVSEC), Club WAMCO, Team MTCC, Marlin, Irushadhiyya School, Team MHC, AFC Anglers, Pro Fishing Maldives, Club AEH, Team Muraka, Fuel Supplies Maldives Pvt Ltd, Runway 10, Customs Recreation Club (CRC), Mylo City Sports Club, Concorde-2, Team Femina, Club Immigration, Kashikola, and NCPLE. The range of teams participating illustrates the inclusive appeal of the event, bringing together experienced anglers, corporate clubs, public sector associations, youth participation, and community groups in a shared sporting platform.
The tournament will award trophies and cash prizes of MVR 35,000 for first place, MVR 15,000 for second place, and MVR 5,000 for third place. In addition, individual recognition will be given to the best performing angler with the highest number of catches, who will receive a trophy and a cash reward of MVR 2,000 during the award ceremony. These awards are expected to further enhance the competitive spirit of the event while recognising excellence, discipline, and skill within a professionally managed competition environment.
Burunu Lite has been developed as a regional extension of BurunuBoma, the Maldives’ flagship international sport fishing tournament. While BurunuBoma continues to serve as the professional core competition attracting seasoned anglers and international participants, Burunu Lite has been designed to carry the energy and appeal of the event into the atolls. In doing so, it supports a more decentralised model of tourism and sporting engagement, allowing communities outside the capital region and major tourism hubs to benefit directly from event-based activity and national promotion.
The event is also expected to generate positive momentum for the local economy during the tournament period. Increased visitor movement linked to the competition can contribute to business for guesthouses, cafés, transport providers, small retailers, and other service operators in Addu City. Beyond the tournament itself, the occasion offers an opportunity to present the character of the southern atolls to wider audiences, including domestic travellers and international observers with an interest in marine tourism. For global readers, the event demonstrates how the Maldives continues to diversify its tourism profile by combining premium ocean experiences with community connection, cultural authenticity, and regional inclusion.
The competition will be conducted in line with international IGFA standards and will incorporate both catch-and-release practices and regulated retention, reflecting a balanced approach that promotes responsible sport fishing. Retained catch from the event will be sold, with proceeds directed toward charitable causes, adding a meaningful social dimension to the tournament. This element reinforces the wider value of the competition, connecting recreation and tourism with community benefit and responsible stewardship of marine resources.
Alongside the regional tournament, Visit Maldives has also announced that registration is now open for the next edition of the BurunuBoma Global Sport Fishing Tournament, which is set to take place during the third quarter of the year. The continued development of both Burunu Lite and BurunuBoma reflects a broader effort to strengthen the Maldives’ standing as a destination for marine tourism, sport fishing, and ocean-based experiences. It also signals growing confidence in the country’s ability to create tourism events that are commercially relevant, internationally appealing, and beneficial to local communities.
As Addu City prepares to welcome participants and spectators for Burunu Lite Addu Edition, the event is being viewed as an important addition to the national tourism and sporting calendar. By bringing a well-recognised fishing tournament format into a regional setting, the initiative highlights the Maldives’ enduring connection to the sea while promoting sustainable visitor activity, community participation, and greater visibility for destinations beyond the traditional tourism centres.
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