In March of 2009, th Maldives became the first country to declare a ban on shark fishing. This historic decision is the result of groups like the Baa Atoll Project, as well as a forward-looking government that knows that it benefits most from a normalized environment. Also in March, the Maldives became one of a small group of countries declaring its intention to become the first carbon-neutral nation, hoping to achieve that goal within 10 years.

The shark fishing ban by the Maldives is in recognition that a healthy shark population and reef ecoystem draws divers and tourism. Maintaining sharks in the food chain also helps to protect populations of other fish species from collapse. If the shark fishing ban can be implemented successfully, sharks will not only enjoy a safe haven, but also the Maldives can serve as a beacon to other countries whose waters are important to the survival of sharks.

Successful implementation of this shark fishing ban will depend on enforcement and education. Shark Savers' commitment to the Baa Atoll Project has been to develop a program for the school children of the Maldives, the future custodians of the shark population and in many cases, the future fishermen. The educational program about sharks is nearing completion and will include curriculum materials for all 80,000 school children. We also will include DVDs of Rob Stewart's Sharkwater. Together with the general audience and conservation programs developed by the Baa Atoll coalition, we are very excited about our role.

In addition to that previous commitment, we have launched a petition-style 'thank you' letter to the government of the Maldives to encourage strong implementation and enforcement. We hope that you will sign it here.

Background on the Maldives

Blacktip reef shark in the Maldives. Photo: Guy Stevens

In recent decades, sharks have become the second most important target. As shark fin prices rose, shark fishing has sky rocketed. Most sharks are finned and their fins are exported. There is no market for shark meat in the Maldives. Sharks have also been one of the most important attractions for the Maldives tourism industry, particularly for divers wanting to experience them. However, where many species of sharks were once plentiful, they are increasingly hard to find.

As tourism developed over the past 30 years on 100 islands of the Maldives, the residents of the Maldives have benefited, achieving one of the highest standards of living in Southeast Asia. However, many Maldivians continue to live as traditional fishermen. Given the geography, the local traditions and religious beliefs, and the rapid rise of tourism and some affluence, tourist and ‘local’ Islands have evolved into two parallel worlds. One world represents Maldivians on tourist islands, catapulted into the 21st century with the speed of light. The other world is dominated by those still living traditional lives of the sea. And then there are the other inhabitants of the area, the sharks.

Sharks have become decimated in recent decades, as they have elsewhere in the world. The government of the Maldives is one of the most environmentally concerned of all nations, vulnerable as it is to climate change and rising seas. The government is now rising above its historic reluctance to restrict the livlihood of its shark fishermen by annoucing its shark fishing ban. Previous restrictions on shark fishing were limited to areas around the resorts, but even these measures were not consistently enforced. In addition, the ban initially only covers reef sharks within a 12 mile limit. In March 2010, the ban will be extended to oceanic sharks within all of its territorial waters. We would like the government to proclaim a complete ban earlier, and to ensure vigorous enforcement.