President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzi, has announced the lifting of the nation’s shark fishing ban this coming November.
The statement was made by the President during a speech in Kulhudhuffushi City, in which he said that the region’s gulper shark fishery had been a ‘significant source of income’ in the past and will reopen ‘under a comprehensive management plan’.
In the same speech, President Muizzi announced new tourist developments in the region, including a new hotel near the city’s airport and new resorts in the southern part of Thiladhumathi Atoll.
Gulper sharks (Centrophorus granulosus) are a species of dogfish, averaging around 90 cm (3 ft) in length and found at depths between 100-1500 metres in tropical and sub-tropical waters around the world.
They are a fairly common species, but are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, largely due to overfishing.
Like most sharks, gulpers grow slowly and are slow to reproduce – possibly one of the slowest reproduction rates of all shark species.
Females of the species do not reach sexual maturity until they are at least 12 years of age, and will carry just a single pup to term per pregnancy, with a two-year gestation period.
The Maldives has had strong regulations regarding shark fishing in place since 1998, and introduced a total ban on shark fishing in 2010.
Rumours that the moratorium would be lifted in 2021 were later dismissed by government ministers, who said that discussions were in place to lift the ban on longline fishing for yellowfin tuna, which had been in place since 2019.
Moves to lift the longline tuna ban were also quashed by international outcry in 2024. As a deepwater fish, however, indiscriminate longlines are the preferred method for catching gulper sharks, meaning that other species could, potentially, also be put at risk.
The announcement appears to be limited to gulper sharks, and there is no mention that fishing for larger species, such as the tiger sharks for which the southern atolls are famous, will be legalised.
Nevertheless, the announcement that the total ban on fishing for any shark species will be lifted has drawn anger from shark conservationists.
‘Reopening shark fishing threatens the Maldives’ hard-earned reputation as a global shark sanctuary’ said Shark Guardian founder, Brendon Sing.
‘Sharks are far more valuable alive, supporting eco-tourism, healthy reefs, and the livelihoods of local communities. Allowing fishing would undermine decades of conservation progress and damage the Maldives’ international image.’
