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A new national poll in the Maldives has revealed overwhelming public opposition to the government’s plan to reopen the gulper shark fishery in Kulhudhuffushi on 1 November.
Commissioned by ocean conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation, in partnership with Maldives Resilient Reefs and the Maldivian Miyaru Shark Programme, the poll revealed that 77 per cent of respondents fear reopening the fishery will damage both the marine environment and the economy.
Sixty-one per cent of respondents also replied are aware that the Maldives is one of just 17 shark sanctuaries in the world, which the campaign groups say indicates environmental stewardship is high among the population.
The Maldives placed a total moratorium on shark fishing – for any species – in 2010, and reopening the fishery would see it lose its status as one of the shark sanctuary nations.
‘The Maldives’ shark sanctuary is one of the country’s greatest conservation achievements, recognised worldwide,’ said Shaha Hashim, Executive Director of Maldives Resilient Reefs. ‘Reopening gulper shark fishing puts our marine ecosystems, our economy and our global reputation at risk.
‘The government has a critical role to play in safeguarding this legacy – the science is clear: gulper shark populations cannot withstand fishing pressure and their loss would have devastating ripple effects.’
Gulper sharks (Centrophorus granulosus) are a species of dogfish, averaging around 90cm (3ft) in length. They are targeted primarily for their squalene-rich liver, which is mostly used in the cosmetics industry, with some medical applications.
They are one of the slowest-growing species of shark and, therefore, subject to severe population collapse under excess pressure from overfishing. Although they are distributed globally, they are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
A 2024 report found that the population of gulper sharks in Maldives waters fell by 97 per cent between 1982 and 2002, with the fishery virtually depleted by 1994.
They are also a deepwater fish, ranging between 100-1500 metres in depth, and the indiscriminate longlining fishing method used to catch them would endanger other shark populations, including tiger sharks, hammerheads, and thresher sharks.
The three conservation organisations behind the poll are calling on Maldives president Dr Mohamed Muizzi to maintain the sanctuary, in line with its international commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
They are also calling on the international community to help stop the plans by signing an OnlyOne petition, based on a successful campaign in 2024, which saw the Maldivian government reverse its decision to grant new longline fishing following a petition with 30,000 signatories.
‘The Maldives has been a beacon of shark conservation for more than a decade,’ said Dr Judith Brown, Blue Marine Foundation’s Projects Director.
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