International scientists, including those from the UK, are urging the Maldivian government to reconsider its plans to reintroduce destructive longline fishing practices. The scientists hope to garner support from concerned scuba divers who frequent the Indian Ocean islands for big-animal experiences.
Longline fishing, known for its detrimental impact on marine life, threatens both targeted and bycatch species and poses a significant risk to the already overfished tuna populations that local small-scale fishers rely on. The Maldives’ proposed regulation would permit shark bycatch to be landed, jeopardizing the nation’s status as a sanctuary for sharks and rays.
Critics argue that reintroducing longlining could effectively restart shark-fishing in the atolls, endangering vital fish stocks, ocean health, and the livelihoods of sustainable, one-by-one fishers. Moreover, the depletion of essential fish stocks needed to sustain coastal communities could escalate into a humanitarian crisis. The competition from overseas fisheries could further diminish local fishers’ income, while the high bycatch rates associated with longlining threaten marine biodiversity, including vulnerable species like sharks, manta rays, turtles, and seabirds.
Longlining was initially banned in the Maldives in 2010 due to management issues, briefly reopened in 2011, and then halted again in 2019 after further irregularities. The Maldives Ocean Alliance (MOA) of businesses and NGOs, in collaboration with the Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen’s Union, has launched a petition through OnlyOne, urging the international community to raise awareness of the ecological, economic, and reputational consequences of longlining.
Prominent UK scientists backing the #AgainstLonglining campaign include Daniel Pauly, one of the world’s most cited fisheries scientists, and Professor Callum Roberts, a marine conservation biologist at the University of Exeter. “The Maldives is a global leader in ocean conservation, having protected its waters from fishing for sharks, manta rays, and turtles since 2009,” said Roberts. “Resuming longline fishing would be a highly efficient way to decimate iconic ocean wildlife and squander that hard-earned reputation.”
Scuba divers and concerned citizens are encouraged to sign the petition to support the cause.
Source: DiverNet
