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Maldives
bans reef shark hunting to woo tourists
COLOMBO, (AFP) - The Maldives on Thursday banned reef
shark hunting in a bid to protect the atoll nation’s
fragile ecology and attract more divers.
The new law would stop shark hunting in shallow waters
around the country’s 1,192 coral islands, the government
said.
“The ban will restore the Maldives’ shark
populations and, in doing so, help maintain our pristine
marine environment,” President Mohamed Nasheed
said.
“The shark hunting ban will also help the tourism
industry. More divers and snorkelers will now visit
the Maldives to observe these beautiful sea creatures.”
The Maldives’ coral reefs are home to large numbers
of sharks, manta rays, turtles and exotic fishs, making
the country a top diving destinations.
There is no domestic market in the Maldives for shark
meat, which is mainly exported to East Asian nations.
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