PLEASE HELP NOW TO STOP THE MALDIVES GOVERNMENT LEGALISING COMMERCIAL SHARK FISHING.

For many tourists, the Maldives is the go to destination for snorkelling and diving due to its stunning and abundant marine life, house reefs and numerous dive sites within its Atolls.

Up until now, the Maldives had prided itself globally on its conservation efforts. With many initiatives in place, it has become renown for its extensive work protecting its delicate eco-system.

In 2010, the Maldives Government passed legislation to protect its many varieties of sharks from commercial fishing and finning. Additionally, special permits were introduced in order to hand fish within the Maldive atolls.

However, this week, the Ministry of Fisheries Minister, Zaha Waheed announced discussions were now taking place to legalise the fishing of sharks within the Maldives. This would be absolutely devastating to its delicate eco-system, and the Minister of Fisheries is now seeking to put Revenue generation before conservation of its delicate eco-system.

Commercial fishing of sharks consists of “finning”. The sharks are caught, their fins cut off, then the bodies are thrown back in the sea where the sharks, still alive, fall to the bottom and suffer a slow agonising and cruel death.

The Maldives Government released a recent statement; “it is important that all tourism activities are conducted in harmony with the environment and biodiversity...”. This statement in itself is hypocritical and contrary to the conservation objectives if commercial shark fishing is allowed to be legalised

The following study shows that simply put, sharks are worth more to an economy and any revenue generation alive than they are dead as a result of commercial fishing. Sharks attract more revenue generation from tourists, divers and snorkelers.

(Study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326145536_How_shark_conservation_in_the_Maldives_affects_demand_for_dive_tourism

For many of us, part of the excitement of visiting the Maldives is to experience its marine life. How many of us have walked along the shoreline shadowed by the baby black tips and lemon sharks.....How many of us get so excited snorkelling and diving with the bigger sharks around the house reefs and dive sites ?

Commercial Shark Fishing will quickly eradicate these beautiful apex creatures, which in turn will destroy the natural balance of the eco-system and corals that the smaller fish rely upon for food. The beautiful marine life that we so excitingly watch as we walk along the beach will soon disappear !

Please take a few minutes to watch this extremely informative video regarding sharks, how they affect the eco-system and the impacts of the shark finning industry worldwide.

This video is courtesy of marine environmentalist Ocean Ramsey, and TEDx.

https://www.ted.com/talks/ocean_ramsey_why_the_world_needs_sharks?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

I NEED YOUR URGENT HELP !

PLEASE help me to STOP the legalisation or commercial shark fishing in the Maldives.

Please register your name on this petition if you wish to OBJECT.

I will be personally passing all objections received to Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Maldives Minister of Tourism, and to The Minister of Fisheries, Zaha Waheed to voice our united concerns and to petition against the legalisation of commercial shark fishing in the Maldives.

Each and everyone who objects, will have a voice that will be heard !

Thank you for your kind time and support.

Alan West

Guests of the Maldives, Islands and Resorts.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/473708426728911/

Some key facts courtesy of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme:

� Sharks are key players in maintaining balanced and healthy fish populations which in turn benefits fishermen. By engaging in legal and sustainable fishing practises this ensures healthy fish stocks for future generations.

� Increasing shark populations can raise dive tourists' trip demand to the Maldives by 15%.

� This increased dive trip demand generates economic benefits of >US$6 million for the local dive tourism industry.

� Illegal fishing and reduced shark numbers can cause economic losses of US$24 million to the local dive tourism sector.

Paper referenced: Zimmerhackel et al., 2018

Images captured by Pauwels Thomas.

#shark #sharks #whalesharks #protectsharks #endangeredspecies  #maldives #southariatoll #sharkfishing