MALDIVES - SHARK FISHING ALLOWED AGAIN !!!!
MALDIVES - SHARK FISHING ALLOWED AGAIN !!!!
Das Problem
Launched by:
Kurt Amsler, Underwater Photographer,
Gerald Nowak, Underwater Photographer
To the following decision-makers:
Honourable President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu,
Honourable Ahmed Shiyam,
Minister of Fisheries & Ocean Resources,
Honourable Thoriq Ibrahim,
Minister of Tourism and Environment
After a years-long ban the Maldives intends to allow shark fishing again.
President Mohamed Muizzu's office announced on Wednesday the lifting of the 15-year-old ban. Shark fishing is scheduled to resume in November!
This political reversal of previous shark conservation efforts not only jeopardizes ecological credibility, but also dive tourism, for which sharks are a key attraction.
Shark fishing should be resumed as a "source of income."
Totally absurd – the Maldives aren't at all dependent on this income, as it is generated by tourism. The reason for this is clearly the "cuddly relationship" with China!!!
According to a new report by the conservation organization "Traffic," China is the largest importer of shark fins, averaging 890,000 tons annually. (That's about 700 million animals.)
Fisheries Minister Shyam's statement that a "managed fishery" will not affect shark populations in Maldivian waters is simply "whitewashing."
Such fisheries with quotas and controls are not feasible in the Maldives. The caught sharks are, as was previously the case, taken by buyers in the open sea.
According to FAO statistics, an incredible 100 million sharks are killed every year, but the number of unreported cases is likely almost twice that.
Due to targeted hunting and bycatch in fisheries, shark populations have shrunk by two-thirds in just 50 years. This, along with the loss and destruction of habitats, climate change, and ocean pollution, represents the greatest threat to these marine creatures. Sharks are at the top of the food chain and are primarily responsible for ecological balance.
Shark species in the tropics and subtropics are particularly threatened.
This also applies to the listed sharks, which are now to be hunted again in the Maldives. Many representatives of these shark species are listed as critically endangered on the Red List.
The hunting of sharks is therefore a decision against the country's international credibility in the areas of environmental protection, species conservation, and diving tourism in favor of short-term economic gain.
There is also a fear that the renewed hunting, albeit only for "certain" sharks, is a "preliminary program" until all shark species can be caught again. Plans to legalize shark fishing were already on the table in 2021. However, the worst was averted at the time by international protests.
With my signature, I call for this decision to be reconsidered and the general ban on fishing for ALL shark species to be reinstated.
Please copy the statement below and send it to the following addresses:
Minister of Fisheries: admin@fisheries.gov.mv
Minister of Tourism: malaka.abdul@tourism.gov.mv
Ministry of Environment: info@mote.gov.mv
Government Admin: . admin@majlis.gov.mv
Text:
Honorable Members of the Maldivian Government
I was very disappointed and worried to learn from the Media and TV that shark fishing will resume in the Maldives starting November 25th.
Allowing shark hunting is a decision that goes against the country's international credibility in environmental protection, species conservation, and dive tourism in favor of short-term economic gain.
I the undersigned urge you to reconsider the decision to allow hunting again and to reinstate the shark fishing ban for all shark species in the Maldives.
Then we can visit the island kingdom again with a good feeling!!
Sincerely
....................
Link to the topic:
Homepages:
Kurt Amsler: https://www.photosub.com
https://www.sos-seaturtles.ch
Gerald Nowak https://gerald-nowak.de
343
Das Problem
Launched by:
Kurt Amsler, Underwater Photographer,
Gerald Nowak, Underwater Photographer
To the following decision-makers:
Honourable President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu,
Honourable Ahmed Shiyam,
Minister of Fisheries & Ocean Resources,
Honourable Thoriq Ibrahim,
Minister of Tourism and Environment
After a years-long ban the Maldives intends to allow shark fishing again.
President Mohamed Muizzu's office announced on Wednesday the lifting of the 15-year-old ban. Shark fishing is scheduled to resume in November!
This political reversal of previous shark conservation efforts not only jeopardizes ecological credibility, but also dive tourism, for which sharks are a key attraction.
Shark fishing should be resumed as a "source of income."
Totally absurd – the Maldives aren't at all dependent on this income, as it is generated by tourism. The reason for this is clearly the "cuddly relationship" with China!!!
According to a new report by the conservation organization "Traffic," China is the largest importer of shark fins, averaging 890,000 tons annually. (That's about 700 million animals.)
Fisheries Minister Shyam's statement that a "managed fishery" will not affect shark populations in Maldivian waters is simply "whitewashing."
Such fisheries with quotas and controls are not feasible in the Maldives. The caught sharks are, as was previously the case, taken by buyers in the open sea.
According to FAO statistics, an incredible 100 million sharks are killed every year, but the number of unreported cases is likely almost twice that.
Due to targeted hunting and bycatch in fisheries, shark populations have shrunk by two-thirds in just 50 years. This, along with the loss and destruction of habitats, climate change, and ocean pollution, represents the greatest threat to these marine creatures. Sharks are at the top of the food chain and are primarily responsible for ecological balance.
Shark species in the tropics and subtropics are particularly threatened.
This also applies to the listed sharks, which are now to be hunted again in the Maldives. Many representatives of these shark species are listed as critically endangered on the Red List.
The hunting of sharks is therefore a decision against the country's international credibility in the areas of environmental protection, species conservation, and diving tourism in favor of short-term economic gain.
There is also a fear that the renewed hunting, albeit only for "certain" sharks, is a "preliminary program" until all shark species can be caught again. Plans to legalize shark fishing were already on the table in 2021. However, the worst was averted at the time by international protests.
With my signature, I call for this decision to be reconsidered and the general ban on fishing for ALL shark species to be reinstated.
Please copy the statement below and send it to the following addresses:
Minister of Fisheries: admin@fisheries.gov.mv
Minister of Tourism: malaka.abdul@tourism.gov.mv
Ministry of Environment: info@mote.gov.mv
Government Admin: . admin@majlis.gov.mv
Text:
Honorable Members of the Maldivian Government
I was very disappointed and worried to learn from the Media and TV that shark fishing will resume in the Maldives starting November 25th.
Allowing shark hunting is a decision that goes against the country's international credibility in environmental protection, species conservation, and dive tourism in favor of short-term economic gain.
I the undersigned urge you to reconsider the decision to allow hunting again and to reinstate the shark fishing ban for all shark species in the Maldives.
Then we can visit the island kingdom again with a good feeling!!
Sincerely
....................
Link to the topic:
Homepages:
Kurt Amsler: https://www.photosub.com
https://www.sos-seaturtles.ch
Gerald Nowak https://gerald-nowak.de
343
Kommentare von Unterstützer*innen
Neuigkeiten zur Petition
Diese Petition teilen
Petition am 16. September 2025 erstellt