Shark Fisheries Banned in the Maldives

The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has imposed a ban on shark fisheries from all the atolls of the Maldives. The ban will be on all shark fisheries within a 12 nautical mile radius. Previously the ban was on imposed on 7 atolls. This is good move after tremendous efforts by various parties and individuals. 

Juvenile Black-Tip Reef Shark fished in Baa Atoll                (Photo: Shaff)

The Ministry has set a target of one year to ban all shark fisheries including oceanic sharks and the export of all shark products. The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture said that "The fishery law clearly tells us that we can protect any marine species if we feel that it's threatened or endangered for any reason. We have taken very strong action against the protection of sharks simply because they were protected worldwide and are very important for tourism."

Juvenile Black-Tip Reef Sharks fished in Baa Atoll         (Photos: Shaff)

It will be a difficult task to enforce the ban, but the ministry says that the responsibility to enforce will have to be shared by the atoll offices, the police and the ministry.

An attempted finning on a live Whale Shark in Ari Atoll      (Photo: Mohamed Faizan Waheed)

According to the Secretary General of Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), the effect of the ban on the tourism industry would be 'tremendous' as 30 percent of the tourists visit the Maldives for it's underwater life and in addition to Manta Rays, Sharks would be their number one priority.

A Grey Reef Shark at Maaya Thila, Ari Atoll     (Photo: Shaff)

Dive to Maagiri

ADI & Maldivers Dive Center staff did a dive to Maagiri in North Male' Atoll to photograph the marine life at the site on 13th Jan 2008. The visibility was good and the current was in-coming. One of the high lights of the dive was to see a very shy Napoleon Eel with a juvenile Pufferfish. Maagiri is good for divers who seek macro subjects to photograph. The best area is the small Thila of Maagiri. Below are some photos from the dive. Enjoy!

Dracula Goby & Shrimp

Napoleon Eel & the Juvenile Pufferfish

Mantis Shrimp

A School of Goatfish

Happy New Year 2009

Just some random photos from Baa Atoll

These are some photos taken at different dive sites of Baa Atoll during the dive trip. Enjoy!

Scorpionfish / Stonefish

Nudibranch

Clark's Anemonefish

Brittle Star on a Soft Coral

Maldive Anemonefish

Long-Nosed Hawkfish

Juvenile Clark's Anemonefish

Back from filming and photography in Baa Atoll

Aqua Dreams & Maldivers Dive team returned from filming the Manta Rays and Whale Sharks in Baa Atoll Hanifaru recently after a week of diving. Captured really good video footage and photographs of the Mantas and Whale Sharks feeding at Hanifaru bay. There were countless number of Manta Rays and about 5 to 8 different Whale Sharks. The videos are currently being edited and compiled by our editors and the photos are being selected and archived. A video of the Hanifaru Dive trip will be uploaded in a few days to our Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/user/aquadreamsimaging

The Team

Yaambe filming a Manta Ray

Manta Rays & School of Fussilers

Shaff filming the Manta Rays

Yaanbe & a Whale Shark

Whale Shark & Cameraman

The trip would have not been possible if not for the valuable help from Jinah and the people of Island of Kendhoo specially Alibe, Mode and Sappe'.

Aqua Dreams Imaging & Maldivers Team in Baa Atoll

Filming in Baa Atoll have been wrapped up and now the team is back in Male'. Dived Dhonfan Thila, Dhigalihaa and also one of the best sites in Baa Atoll, Nelivaru Haa. The team snorkelled with over 30 mantas and also in the end with a Whale Shark.

The Team (Andholhey taking the photo)

Faizan videoing at Nelivaru Haa

More updates soon....

Filming in Baa Atoll

An underwater film crew from Aqua Dreams Imaging together with some instructors and divemasters from Maldivers Dive Centre will be leaving to Baa Atoll to document the marine life at Hanifaru Bay and also a few other protected marine areas in that atoll on 16th September for a duration of 3 days. The trip is being funded by the Atolls Ecosystem Conservation Project (AEC).

www.maldivers.net


www.biodiversity.mv