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The one place in Male' where you are always guaranteed a unique show is the fish market, located along the beach front to the west of the Republic Square. This area is the main hub of trade and is a hive of activity through out the day. The waterfront and the by-lanes in the area are crowded with shops stocked with a variety of goods. Also in the area are the Male' Fish Market and the Local Market selling a range of local products. While some 'dhonis' from all corners of the country unload dried fish, fresh fruits and vegetables from the atolls others are seen loading everything from foodstuffs to construction materials. The pace increases in mid-afternoon as fishing 'dhonis' start returning with their day's catch. The catch, mainly tuna are carried across the road into the open-sided market and laid out on the tiled floors. As fast as the fish are brought in they are bought and taken away by men from all walks of life. The market is kept scrupulously clean, washed down each day and disinfected.
Each day, towards evening, the local boats, (known as dhonis, equipped with powerful marine engines, GPS, and other improvements) start coming into the inner harbor of Male', right in front of the fish market.
There you can see fresh fish being brought onto Male', straight from the boats. The fishermen in those boats will have spent their time out in the boats from at least dawn, or in many cases, the early hours of the morning till they bring in their catch for sale. While some of the boats that bring in the fish are quite small, the average size of the dhonis is increasing at a rapid pace.
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