Petition launched against lifting of Maldives shark fishing ban

The editors of Australia’s Ocean Geographic magazine have launched an online petition asking the government of the Maldives to reconsider lifting its shark fishing ban.

The petition is a response to Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzi’s recent announcement that the nation’s total moratorium on shark fishing would be lifted to allow commercial fishing of the gulper shark.

The petition is being supported by many notable ocean conservationists, including Dr Sylvia Earle, Dr Alex Mustard, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, and Howard and Michele Hall.

Former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, has also added his name to the list of supporting signatories.

‘The Maldives has long been admired for visionary leadership in marine protection, writes Ocean Geographic’s editor, Michael AW. ‘Maintaining the shark fishing ban reinforces this reputation and strengthens your voice in international climate and conservation negotiations.

‘Conversely, lifting the ban risks not only ecological harm but also economic damage, as nature-based tourism remains the country’s largest and most sustainable revenue stream.

‘We respectfully but firmly urge Your Excellency and the Government of the Maldives to maintain the complete ban on shark fishing across all species.

‘This decision will safeguard biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and ensure that the Maldives continues to shine as a beacon of environmental stewardship and marine tourism.’

Gulper sharks (Centrophorus granulosus) are a species of dogfish, averaging around 90 cm (3 ft) in length and found at depths between 100-1500 metres in tropical and sub-tropical waters around the world.

They are a fairly common species, but are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, largely due to overfishing.

Like most sharks, gulpers grow slowly and are slow to reproduce, with possibly one of the slowest reproduction rates of all shark species.

Although no other species are included in the lifting of the ban, gulper sharks are a deepwater fish usually caught by longlining, an indiscriminate method of fishing that could put many different species at risk.

View and sign the petition at Change.org

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