The Maldivian life line has been fishing, for generations and thousands of years. Sufficed as the main food, Tuna was our biggest export and income generator for decades.
Tourism began in the Maldives in the 1970’s and some of the first tourists were Japanese. The Japanese tourism also created a demand t for fish delicacies, with shark fins as one of the most sought after.
The late eighties and the early nineties saw the increase in demand and international value of Shark fins and other products, causing a flurry of shark fishery in the Maldives.
Three types of shark fishery are carried out in the
Recovery once diminished is not easy for species with such biology. Due to the close link between the shark fishery and the tourism sector as well as the tuna fishing industry, several conflicts have arisen over the years between the two resource use groups and shark fishermen.
A 10 year moratorium has been imposed on shark fishing inside and within 12 miles from the atoll rim of 7 atolls in the Maldives. This was put in place in 1998 to address the conflict between shark fishermen and the tourism sector.
“At the time of survey in 2003, shark fishing was carried out in 22 islands whereas it has now declined to 11 islands. A total of 132 vessels and 528 fishermen were involved in the fishery in 2003, accounting for 3.5% of the total number of fishermen in the Maldives. Mean monthly profit for each fishing vessel was MRf 20,313 whereas it had decreased substantially in 2006 to MRf 14,555. Average number of crew per vessel was 4 in 2003 and total number of shark fishing days was about 3 months per year. Total income from the shark fishery was estimated to be MRf 7.92 million in 2003. Averages between MRf 15 to 20 million were earned per year from total shark exports in the 1990s whereas this has now decreased to values below MRf 10 million. Shark fins fetch the highest prices in the export market and contributed 77% to the total income derived from shark exports” – Status of the Shark fisheries in the Maldives 2003
Statistics and reality has been pushed aside for economical benefit for far too long. Now we are at a state where some species of deepwater sharks will take decades to rejuvenate in numbers to original populations. With science and facts to prove the point that a live shark is worth much more than a dead one, the movement via resorts, other tourism industry sectors and government authorities as well as NGO’s is a positive play towards conservation of one of Earths finest and oldest designs. The apex predator which balances life in the oceans can now be protected with enforcement of regulations and bans.
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