Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC / Visit Maldives) is proud to announce the successful completion of the largest international sportfishing tournament ever held in the Maldives – the BurunuBoma Global Sportfishing Tournament 2025. This exciting event was organised by Visit Maldives Club (VMC) in partnership with MMPRC.

The primary goal of this tournament was to promote the Maldives as a premier sportfishing destination on the global stage, while also supporting the development of the country’s fast-growing sportfishing industry. The initiative aims to create opportunities for local anglers to participate and compete at international levels.

The inaugural edition of the BurunuBoma tournament featured nine competitive teams, including one international team – Team Dubai. As the first international tournament of its kind in the Maldives, BurunuBoma set a historic benchmark for sportfishing events in the country. The highly competitive atmosphere, from 2nd to 4th May, was evident in the dynamic daily leaderboards, which kept teams and spectators engaged throughout the event. A major highlight was the Marlin Show in Malé City, where a large Blue Marlin—caught during the tournament but sadly deceased during the catching process—drew significant public interest. Feedback from sportfishing enthusiasts and communities around the world has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the Maldives’ potential as a premier global destination for sustainable sportfishing.

The Global Ambassador of Maldives for Sportfishing, Robert “Fly” Navarro, is currently in the Maldives and played a key role in guiding both the organising committee and the competing teams. All teams expressed great satisfaction with their experience in the Maldives, particularly praising the fishing practices implemented throughout the event. The tournament was structured with a strong emphasis on sustainability, with catch-and-release protocols in place, and conducted according to IGFA (International Game Fish Association) rules.

The closing ceremony, featuring a boat show, took place yesterday (6th May 2025) at Farukolhufushi. Several awards were presented to recognise outstanding performances, including the Champion Team (Team Dubai), and individual honours such as Best Captain, Best Angler, Best Mate, and Best Video.

Visit Maldives Club and MMPRC extend their heartfelt gratitude to all participants, judges, the organising team, and everyone who played a role in making this tournament a fun, exciting, and truly memorable event. We offer special thanks to our valued sponsors and partners: Dhiraagu, our Digital Partner; Bidhabin, for Event Management; and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), our Venue Partner. We also sincerely thank our key partners — Shop and Go, Banoon, Kandu Falhu Fishing, Lotus Fihaara, Elite Fishing, and Dhiguveli Maldives — for their invaluable support in bringing this event to life.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback from sportfishing enthusiasts around the world, MMPRC and Visit Maldives Club are thrilled to build on this success. The next edition of the BurunuBoma Global Sportfishing Tournament has already been confirmed, and we expect more than double the number of teams for next year’s competition. Further details will be shared in the coming months.