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With 800+ exceptional resorts and liveaboards to choose from, you can travel green while exploring the big blue.","Book your next scuba diving holiday",[149,152,155],{"linkUrl":150,"linkText":151},"\u002Fterms-conditions","Terms & Conditions",{"linkUrl":153,"linkText":154},"\u002Fterms-of-website-use","Terms of use",{"linkUrl":156,"linkText":157},"\u002Fprivacy-policy","Privacy Policy",{"title":159,"slug":160,"url":161,"entryType":162,"date":163,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":165,"coverImage":166,"category":167,"author":170,"introduction":176,"tags":177,"articleContent":181,"featuredArticles":212,"flipsnackCode":68,"typeformCode":68,"seomatic":246},"Update on the Maldives Shark Ban","updated-on-the-maldives-shark-ban","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fupdated-on-the-maldives-shark-ban","newArticle","19 Apr 2021","13 Sep 2024","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FUpdated-article-on-the-Maldives-Shark-Ban\u002FWhale-sharks-with-divers-zublu.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FWhale-shark.jpg",{"title":168,"slug":169},"News & opinion","news-opinion",{"firstName":171,"lastName":172,"authorSubtitle":173,"shortHighlight":174,"photo":175},"Adam ","Broadbent","Co-founder, dive travel expert","\u003Cp>Adam is the co-founder of ZuBlu and over the last two decades, he’s explored many of the world’s top dive destinations - as a photographer, cameraman and for pleasure. He is passionate about sustainable business practices and ensuring ZuBlu’s guests have the best possible holiday experience, above and below the waves.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fcpresources\u002Fuserphotos\u002FAdamSus\u002F100\u002FAdam-Team.jpg?d=1723209377","Just weeks after worrying initial reports, we are delighted to report that the Maldivian Government has confirmed it WILL NOT be lifting the long-standing shark fishing ban. ",[178,179,180],"conservation","maldives","sharks",[182,185,187,192,194,210],{"type":183,"text":184},"paragraph","\u003Cp>Just weeks after worrying initial reports, we are delighted to report that the Maldivian Government has confirmed it WILL NOT be lifting the long-standing shark fishing ban. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news was announced by passionate shark enthusiasts and concerned stakeholders, Shark Guardian, after they met with the Maldivian Minister of Fisheries, Zaha Waheed, and the Senior Fisheries Officer, Munshidha Ibrahim, to discuss the matter. During the meeting, Minister Waheed is quoted to have said “there is no talk about uplifting the legislation,” going on to suggest she was 99.9% certain the shark fishing ban would remain in place during her time in office, and into the near future. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shark Guardian also notes that Minister Waheed has fought for the current ban on numerous occasions over the last few years, against MPs who continue to press for its re-legalisation, positioning herself as a strong advocate of shark conservation in the country. In fact, the minister’s final remarks in her meeting with Shark Guardian were “I hope we were clear about and assured that we’re not opening up the shark fishery” - a statement that is hard to rebuke.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":183,"text":186},"\u003Cp>In response to the initial reports of the government’s plans to lift the ban, the Maldivian Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Director-General Ibrahim Naeem reportedly stated \u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":188,"text":189,"quotee":190,"year":191},"quote","“We do not believe the government of Maldives is considering such a decision” and that the “EPA have not received any word, nor have we been consulted on such a matter”. ","Ibrahim Naeem","0",{"type":183,"text":193},"\u003Cp>This would appear to support Minister Waheed’s suggestion that several of her quotes were taken out of context, and that she was actually referring to the possible introduction of long-line tuna fishing operations. If long-lining were to begin, there would be inevitable and indiscriminate shark bycatch. Waheed told Shark Guardian, “Right now, nobody can land anything, even if it is dead or alive, so nobody can touch any of the sharks but once in a [tuna] fishery … there has to be a system through which we can do the reporting and be accountable. That’s the only piece of change which we are suggesting.”\u003Cbr \u002F>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the result of miscommunication or a deliberate shift in stance due to public pressure, the stability of the current shark fishing ban is certainly a relief for the local shark population and ocean-enthusiasts alike. However, alongside Shark Guardian, at ZuBlu we remain in opposition to the opening of a long-line tuna fishery within the Maldives, as well as any trade of shark bycatch.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":195,"downloadBanner":196,"bannerInfo":200,"text":27},"download",["Reactive",197],{"label":198,"value":199,"selected":24},"Maldives Guide","maldives-guide",["Reactive",201],{"bannerId":199,"bannerTitle":202,"zohoLinkId":203,"bannerBodyText":204,"bannerCTAText":205,"bannerCTALink":206,"bannerBackground":207,"downloadGuideText":208,"downloadGuideUrl":209},"Free Maldives dive guide","4308641000015057003","\u003Cp>Complete guide to the best diving in the Maldives. Explore the atolls, seasons, and pro tips in this free 37 page destination guide. \u003C\u002Fp>","Read now","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.flipsnack.com\u002Fzublu\u002Fmaldives-dive-destination-guide.html","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FMaldives-dive-destination-guide-cover.png","Free Maldives diving guide","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fmaldives-dive-destination-guide",{"type":211,"text":27},"subscribe",[213,221,230,238],{"title":214,"slug":215,"url":216,"entryType":162,"date":217,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":218,"coverImage":219,"category":168,"introduction":220},"Maldives Shark Fishing - A Call to Action","maldives-shark-fishing-i","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fmaldives-shark-fishing-i","31 Mar 2021","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FMaldives-shark-fishing-I\u002FMaldives-legalize-shark-finning_banner.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FMaldives-shark-fishing-I\u002FMaldives-legalize-shark-finning-thumb.jpg","On the 24th March 2021, Maldives Fisheries Minister, Zaha Waheed, announced that the government is conducting intensive talks to end the nation’s 11-year ban on shark fishing. In response to a question from a member of the People's Majlis Economic Committee Minister Waheed reportedly said shark fishing “presents a profitable revenue-generation strategy for the state.”",{"title":222,"slug":223,"url":224,"entryType":162,"date":225,"lastUpdated":226,"banner":227,"coverImage":228,"category":80,"introduction":229},"Where to dive with hammerhead sharks","where-to-dive-with-hammerhead-sharks","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fwhere-to-dive-with-hammerhead-sharks","24 Mar 2021","18 Jan 2025","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FNew-hammerhead-cover.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FWhere-to-dive-with-hammerhead-sharks\u002FHammerhead-Bahamas.jpg","Whether it's a single great hammerhead cruising toward you out of the blue, or a wall of hundreds of schooling scalloped hammers off in the distance, an encounter with these majestic creatures is always unforgettable. These shy and graceful predators are among the ocean's most fascinating species – captivating divers and underwater photographers with their unique appearance and distinct behaviour. So, it's no surprise that diving alongside them tops so many divers’ bucket lists.",{"title":231,"slug":232,"url":233,"entryType":162,"date":234,"lastUpdated":234,"banner":235,"coverImage":236,"category":168,"introduction":237},"Sharks critical to restoring damaged ecosystems","sharks-critical-to-restoring-damaged-ecosystems","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Fsharks-critical-to-restoring-damaged-ecosystems","29 Mar 2021","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002Fsharks-critical-to-restoring-environmental-damage\u002FSharks-critical-banner.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002Fsharks-critical-to-restoring-environmental-damage\u002Fsharks-critical.jpeg","According to The Guardian, a new study has found evidence to suggest the absence of sharks can worsen the effects of extreme climate damage.",{"title":239,"slug":240,"url":241,"entryType":162,"date":242,"lastUpdated":164,"banner":243,"coverImage":244,"category":80,"introduction":245},"The best shark diving in Baja California - when and where","top-shark-diving-in-baja-california","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Farticles\u002Fzublu-insights\u002Ftop-shark-diving-in-baja-california","12 Mar 2021","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FArticles\u002FTop-shark-diving-in-Baja-California\u002Ftop-shark-diving-in-baja-california.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FMexico\u002FBaja-California\u002FCabo-San-Lucas\u002FCabo-San-Lucas-Mexico-10.jpg","Mexico’s Baja California is home to some of the country's best shark diving destinations, boasting guaranteed chills, thrills, and up-close interactions with some of the planet's most awesome shark species! And while Mexico is fairly new to the shark diving scene, it is already drawing plenty of attention from divers in the know. \r\n\r\nKeep reading to discover the top shark diving experiences in Baja California and off Mexico's Pacific coast – all chosen by our shark diving travel experts – and start planning your trip today!",{"seomaticMeta":247,"seomaticHelper":267,"seomaticSiteMeta":271,"seomaticSocial":277,"seomaticIdentity":281,"seomaticCreator":287,"seomaticMainEntityOfPage":289,"seomaticTemplatePath":27},{"seoTitle":248,"seoDescription":249,"seoKeywords":250,"seoImage":166,"robots":27,"canonicalUrl":161,"twitter":251,"og":255,"breadcrumbs":265},"Just weeks after worrying initial reports, we are delighted to report…","Just weeks after worrying initial reports, we are delighted to report that the Maldivian Government has confirmed it WILL NOT be lifting the long-standing shark","scuba, diving, asia, destinations, travel",{"card":252,"site":253,"creator":27,"title":248,"description":249,"image":254,"url":161},"summary","@zubludiving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com\u002Fimages\u002FPhilippines\u002FVisayas\u002FMoalboal\u002FMoalboal_Sampaguita-turtle.jpg",{"type":256,"locale":257,"url":161,"title":248,"description":249,"image":254,"image:type":258,"image:width":259,"image:height":260,"site_name":108,"see_also":261},"website","en_us","image\u002Fjpeg","2000","1331",[12,262,263,264],"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fzubludiving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fzublu_diving","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pinterest.com\u002Fzubludiving",{"Book your next scuba diving holiday":266},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zubludiving.com",{"twitterUrl":12,"facebookUrl":262,"googlePlusUrl":27,"linkedInUrl":27,"youtubeUrl":27,"youtubeChannelUrl":27,"instagramUrl":263,"pinterestUrl":264,"githubUrl":27,"vimeoUrl":27,"wikipediaUrl":27,"ownerGoogleSiteVerification":27,"ownerBingSiteVerification":27,"ownerGoogleAnalyticsUID":27,"ownerGoogleTagManagerID":27,"googleAnalyticsSendPageview":268,"googleAnalyticsAdvertising":191,"googleAnalyticsEcommerce":191,"googleAnalyticsEEcommerce":191,"googleAnalyticsLinkAttribution":191,"googleAnalyticsLinker":191,"googleAnalyticsAnonymizeIp":191,"ownerCopyrightNotice":269,"ownerAddressString":27,"ownerAddressHtml":27,"ownerMapUrl":27,"creatorCopyrightNotice":270,"creatorAddressString":27,"creatorAddressHtml":27,"creatorMapUrl":27},"1","Copyright ©2026 ZuBlu.","Copyright ©2026 .",{"locale":257,"siteSeoName":108,"siteSeoTitle":147,"siteSeoTitleSeparator":272,"siteSeoTitlePlacement":273,"siteDevModeTitle":274,"siteSeoDescription":275,"siteSeoKeywords":250,"siteRobots":27,"siteLinksSearchTargets":276,"siteLinksQueryInput":27,"siteSeoImage":254},"|","after","[devMode]","ZuBlu is the leading dive travel company to search, compare and book scuba diving travel worldwide. 600+ resorts and liveaboards to choose from.",[],{"locale":257,"twitterHandle":278,"facebookHandle":278,"facebookProfileId":279,"facebookAppId":27,"linkedInHandle":27,"googlePlusHandle":27,"youtubeHandle":27,"youtubeChannelHandle":27,"instagramHandle":280,"pinterestHandle":278,"githubHandle":27,"vimeoHandle":27,"wikipediaUrl":27},"zubludiving","1843817699193883","zublu_diving",{"type":282,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":283,"location":284},"Corporation",[12,262,263,264],{"type":285,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":286},"Place",[12,262,263,264],{"type":288},"Organization",{"type":290,"name":147,"description":275,"image":291,"url":161,"mainEntityOfPage":161,"inLanguage":257,"headline":147,"keywords":250,"author":293,"copyrightHolder":297,"publisher":301,"breadcrumb":305},"WebPage",{"type":292,"url":254,"width":259,"height":260},"ImageObject",{"type":282,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":294,"location":295},[12,262,263,264],{"type":285,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":296},[12,262,263,264],{"type":282,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":298,"location":299},[12,262,263,264],{"type":285,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":300},[12,262,263,264],{"type":288,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":302,"location":303},[12,262,263,264],{"type":285,"name":108,"url":266,"sameAs":304},[12,262,263,264],{"type":306,"itemListElement":307},"BreadcrumbList",[308],{"type":309,"position":310,"item":311},"ListItem",1,{"@id":266,"name":147},1781251707537]