The government’s decision has provoked widespread condemnation inside and outside the Maldives. A national poll commissioned by ocean conservation organisations revealed that over three-quarters of Maldivians oppose reopening the gulper shark fishery.
In a dramatic pivot with far-reaching environmental and economic implications, the Maldives has lifted its blanket ban on shark fishing to allow targeted harvesting of gulper sharks – deep-water predators long emblematic of the country’s reputation as a global marine conservation leader. Once one of the only shark sanctuaries in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives now finds itself at the heart of an escalating debate between economic actors, fishers and an increasingly mobilised public demanding protection for vulnerable species.
A Sanctuary Unravels: The Policy Shift
For 15 years, the Maldives’ shark sanctuary policy stood as a beacon of ocean stewardship, outlawing the catch, sale, export, and targeted fishing of all shark species. The landmark 2010 ban helped preserve not only iconic reef sharks but also rare deep-sea species like the gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus).
That changed on November 1, 2025, when regulations came into effect permitting annual gulper shark fishing between December and June, under a licensing plan capped at 40 vessels and specific deep-water zones outside the atolls. The government framed the move as a regulated resource-utilisation strategy intended to generate revenue and support local fishers.
Yet the reopening of this fishery – long dormant and highly controversial – has ignited fierce pushback from conservationists, scientists, tourism operators and ordinary Maldivians.
Why Gulper Sharks Matter: Biology and Vulnerability
Gulper sharks are inhabitants of dark, deep-sea waters, rarely seen by casual divers yet vital to ecological balance. Their life history makes them extraordinarily vulnerable to exploitation: females may not mature until their teens and produce only a few pups over many years. This slow growth and low reproductive output mean that even modest fishing pressure can drive populations into steep decline.
Historical records underscore the peril: when the Maldives previously allowed gulper harvesting in the late 20th century, populations plummeted by as much as 97 per cent, collapsing within a decade with no sign of recovery. Globally, most gulper shark species are listed as Endangered or Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, reflecting severe declines across their range.
Marine ecologists warn that removing deep-sea predators destabilises food webs and risks cascading effects on fisheries and reef health – factors critical to the broader Indian Ocean marine ecosystem.
Public Outcry and Environmental Backlash
The government’s decision has provoked widespread condemnation inside and outside the Maldives. A national poll commissioned by ocean conservation organisations revealed that over three-quarters (77 per cent) of Maldivians oppose reopening the gulper shark fishery, citing threats to the environment, tourism and food security.
International and local advocacy groups, including Blue Marine Foundation, Maldives Resilient Reefs and the Miyaru Shark Programme, have mounted campaigns urging the government to reverse course, highlighting the sanctuary’s symbolic and economic value.
Opposition has also taken shape in petitions garnering tens of thousands of signatures, letters from scientists and organisations, and petitions emphasising that sustainable alternatives for products like squalene (derived from gulper shark liver oil) are widely available, undermining the justification for exploitation.
Economics vs. Ecology: A High-Stakes Debate
Tourism, particularly shark and dive tourism, represents a cornerstone of the Maldivian economy. Studies show that shark-related tourism generates tens of millions of dollars annually, supporting dive shops, hotels, and local livelihoods. Many conservationists argue that sacrificing long-term economic benefits for short-lived fisheries gains will ultimately erode the nation’s competitive edge as a premier eco-tourism destination.
Meanwhile, government officials, including president Dr Mohamed Muizzu, have defended the policy as part of broader efforts to balance resource use and community development – highlighting support for northern fishers and asserting that management plans will ensure sustainability.
Yet early indications suggest limited industry uptake: three weeks after reopening, reports found no vessels actively fishing gulper sharks, with some fishers citing restrictive regulations that make participation impractical.
Legal, International and Future Implications
The policy shift also has legal and international ramifications. The Maldives may face obligations under global conventions, such as CITES, which has listed several shark species to regulate international trade. Failure to align domestic management with scientific assessments and trade sustainability criteria could trigger scrutiny or trade restrictions – further complicating the economics of a reopened fishery.
Analysts suggest that once international conservation commitments and market rules fully intersect with national policy, gulf between sustainability rhetoric and practice may widen – setting a precedent for other nations balancing conservation with exploitation.
Between Sanctuary and Exploitation
The gulper shark controversy in the Maldives encapsulates a broader global tension: how to steward oceanic biodiversity amid competing economic interests. For a nation once celebrated as a conservation pioneer, the unfolding debate raises hard questions about identity, priorities and legacy.
Whether the Maldives can reconcile sustainable policy with community welfare, preserve its tourism value and protect vulnerable marine species will depend on sustained dialogue, transparent science-driven management, and the powerful voices of citizens and international partners alike.
As deep waters churn with uncertainty, the future of the gulper shark – and indeed the very notion of sanctuary – hangs in the balance.
