When the Maldives declared its waters a shark sanctuary in 2010, it made history. The small island nation banned all shark fishing and the trade of shark fins across its 90,000-square-kilometer exclusive economic zone, protecting more than 30 species and cementing its reputation as a global conservation leader. It was a bold move that transformed the Maldives into one of the safest places in the world for sharks and a sought-after destination spot for divers hoping to see them. But fifteen years later, that legacy is under pressure. The Maldivian government plans to reopen gulper shark fishing on 1 November 2025, a move that would dismantle the country’s sanctuary status and reopen deep-water longline fisheries. A new national poll commissioned by Blue Marine Foundation, in partnership with Maldives Resilient Reefs and Miyaru – Shark Programme, found that more than three-quarters of Maldivians (77%) oppose the plan. They fear the fishery would harm both the marine environment and the economy.
You can read the full Forbes article on Save the Sanctuary here.
