The Government of Maldives has taken a significant step toward the conservation of marine life with the publication of Regulation No. 2024/R-96, aimed at enhancing interactions with whale sharks. This regulation marks the seventh amendment to the Protected Species Regulation (2021/R-25), revising the existing Code of Conduct for the Protection and Conservation of Whale Sharks, which was first established in 2009.
The new policy reinforces the Maldives’ commitment to marine conservation with stringent guidelines designed to ensure the safety of both tourists and Whale Sharks. Key provisions of the new regulation include maintaining a safe distance from whale sharks, with a minimum of three meters from their bodies and four meters from their tails. It strictly prohibits touching whale sharks or swimming alongside them while holding on. Additionally, interactions should be approached calmly and quietly, with movement limited to the sides of the whale sharks to avoid chasing or obstructing their natural path.
The regulation further prohibits the feeding of whale sharks and restricts the use of flash photography, selfie sticks, or bright lights during interactions. Special guidelines for aerial photography dictate that drones must be operated at least 30 meters above sea level and within the operator’s line of sight. It also designates a 250-meter contact zone around whale sharks that will allow only three vessels at a time, enforcing a speed limit of five knots per hour, and dropping to two knots within 50 meters of the whale shark.
Emergency protocols are established for vessels, ensuring that whale sharks are not obstructed or disturbed during their natural behaviors. In the event of encountering an injured or entangled whale shark, the regulation provides clear directives to follow, including notifying the Environment Protection Agency and ensuring the whale shark’s safe release. This new regulation is set to enhance the experience for tourists interacting with whale sharks in the Maldives while also safeguarding the vital ecosystem that supports whale sharks in their natural habitat.