Dhonfanu council requests management of Hanifaru Bay

The B. Dhonfanu Island Council has formally requested President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to transfer the management of the Hanifaru protected area to the local council.

President Muizzu visited Dhonfanu today and met with residents.

At the meeting the Dhonfanu Council President Ahmed Irshad said, “Hanifaru is one of the jewels of the atoll”, noting that while successive governments have received the same request, none have acted on it.

Currently, the Hanifaru area is managed by the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office, as part of the government's commitment to preserving key ecological sites within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Of the nine protected areas in Baa Atoll, three — Hanifaru, Mendhoo, and Olhugiri — are managed directly under the Biosphere Office’s management plan.

During the meeting, the council president emphasized that Dhonfanu is the nearest residential island to Hanifaru, making it ideally positioned to manage and preserve the site. He urged the president to bring Hanifaru under the jurisdiction of the island council, citing the potential to boost local tourism and generate revenue for community development.

“One of the biggest, most consistent requests of Dhonfanu residents — under every administration — is to bring Hanifaru under our jurisdiction or hand over its management to our council,” Irshad said.

“Because Dhonfanu is a small island, its voice is often excluded from broader atoll-level decision-making.”

The council believes that direct involvement in the management of Hanifaru would empower the community and help ensure sustainable tourism practices in the area, which is renowned for sightings of manta rays and whale sharks.

Since 2013, the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office has charged USD 10–20 per tourist visiting the area for snorkeling and diving, while Maldivian nationals are charged USD 2. These fees are directed towards environmental conservation efforts within the atoll.