Shark Guardians reports that, contrary to many articles and a current campaign, the Maldives does not plan to lift its current ban on shark fishing. This is based on a meeting with Minister Waheed of the Maldives Majlis, within which she stated that the statements that have been widely reported are being quoted out of context.
In response to questions in Maldivian People’s Majlis or parliament, the Minister of Fisheries, Zaha Waheed, has stated that the ministry was considering lifting the country’s current ban on shark fishing. The reasons stated for this are that this would allow the exploitation of sharks as an economic resource, which ignores the economic benefits that tourism provides. Please click through for ideas about individual advocacy, research, and statements of support from the global marine conservation organization for maintaining the current ban.
Jason deCaires Taylor’s “Sculpture Coralarium” has been destroyed by police in the Maldives. The semi-submergerd structure and sculptures was destroyed using pick axes, ropes, and saws in front of the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi resort on Friday of this past week. The move came after a civil court ordered the destruction of the artwork. Former president Abdulla Yameen, who did not win re-election this weekend, ordered the removal in July.
Underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has opened a new exhibit in the Maldives that contains 30 coral covered structures. Coralarium is located at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The structure is accessible to visitors via a long pool and consists of casts of local Maldivians. In addition to a living stag horn coral path, the exhibit is seeded with coral to promote new growth as well as peppered with dead coral fragments.
Reef ID Books has published a print version of their “Coral Reefs Maldives” marine life photo guide. It illustrates and identifies over 1200 species commonly found in the reefs and atolls of the Maldives in an easy to use graphical format. It now available in print, Kindle and iBook formats.
In March of this year John Ng was diving with the Scuba Monster team in the Maldives, when he found an intact camera housing during one of his dives. Shockingly, the Panasonic GH4 in a Nauticam underwater housing was fully functioning.
Wetpixel member EunJae Im (escape on the forum) has posted a stunning short film about the marine life of the Southern atolls of the Maldives.