The Environment Protection and Preservation Act outlines guidelines for preserving the natural habitat of whale sharks and minimizing human impact on these marine giants.
The Maldives government has introduced a new policy aimed at the protection of whale sharks and their environment.
The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy unveiled the policy during a special ceremony held last Friday in Alifu Dhaalu atoll Dhigurah, coinciding with International Whale Shark Day.
This new policy revises the existing Code of Conduct for the Protection and Conservation of Whale Sharks, first published on June 5, 2009, with significant changes. The updated policy is set to come into effect in three months.
The Environment Protection and Preservation Act outlines guidelines for preserving the natural habitat of whale sharks and minimizing human impact on these marine giants. The policy include:
- Maintaining a distance of at least three meters from a whale shark and four meters from its tail
- Refraining from touching, injuring, or swimming while holding onto the whale shark's fin
- Avoiding obstruction of the whale shark's path
- Keeping a distance of at least 20 meters when snorkeling above a whale shark
- Feeding whale sharks are prohibited
- Banning the use of lights or flash photography
- Restricting vessels from approaching areas where whale sharks are present
- Ensuring drone photography is conducted at an altitude of over 30 meters above sea level
- Prohibiting the use of selfie sticks in areas where whale sharks are sighted
ބައިނަލްއަޤްވާމީ ފެހުރިހީގެ ދުވަސް ފާހަގަކުރުމުގައި ބައިވެރިވެވަޑައިގެންނެވި އިސް ބޭފުޅުން ސައުތުއަރި މެރިން ޕްރޮޓެކްޓެޑް އޭރިއާ މިނިސްޓަރ ޠާރިޤު އާއެކު ބައްލަވާލެއްވުން.@Thoriqibrahim @Adamshareefz @USinMaldives @AusHCMV pic.twitter.com/3gM37yHNiT
— Min. of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (@MoEnvmv) September 1, 2024
The policy also establishes a 250-meter contact zone around whale sharks, where only three vessels can operate at a time.
Within this zone, vessels must not exceed five knots per hour, and within 50 meters of the whale shark, the speed limit should be dropped to two knots per hour.
However, in emergencies, vessels can leave the contact zone at speeds above five knots per hour.
Additionally, water sports vehicles are banned from entering the contact zone, and a 15-meter distance must be maintained between vessels and the nearest whale shark within the zone.
The new guidelines address the growing concern over overcrowding at whale shark sighting points, particularly in Baa atoll's Hanifaru Bay and the waters off Alifu Dhaalu atoll Maamigili, both of which are protected areas.
However, improper monitoring has led to a sharp decline in whale shark sightings in recent years.
The policy also outlines procedures for dealing with sick or injured whale sharks:
- Notifying the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) immediately if a live whale shark is found trapped in a net, mooring line, or flotsam
- Using a knife or sharp instrument to free the trapped whale shark without harming it
- Ensuring flotsam is brought back ashore rather than released back into the sea
- Allowing injured whale sharks to heal naturally in their environment without interference
In addition to these measures, the policy includes best practices for conducting activities in whale shark habitats and protocols for handling dead or injured whale sharks. Violations of this policy will incur fines under the Protected Species Act.
In July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed whale sharks as an endangered species on its Red List of Threatened Species.
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