Parliament Passes Amendments to Fisheries Act Imposing Heavy Fines for Harvesting Protected Species

Parliament today passed government-sponsored amendments to the Fisheries Act, introducing stringent penalties including fines of up to MVR 1 million for harvesting or exporting protected marine species.

The legislation was passed unanimously with 59 votes in favor, following a review and modifications by the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs. The bill was sponsored on behalf of the government by Thinadhoo South MP Mohamed Alsan Ahmed.

Under the amended legislation, while the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources holds the authority to permit various types of fishing in Maldivian waters, harvesting protected species remains strictly prohibited. Catching protected species will carry a fine of MVR 500,000, while exporting any protected marine species will attract fines of up to MVR 1 million.

Key highlights of the passed bill include:

• Development of Sports Fishing Harbours: Establishes a legal framework and dedicated guidelines authorizing the ministry to permit interested parties to construct and operate sports fishing harbours and recreational fisheries infrastructure.

• Actions Against Non-Compliant Foreign Vessels: Sets clear administrative procedures for penalizing and handling foreign vessels found violating Maldivian fisheries laws based on their flag state.

• Strengthened Regulatory Enforcement: Resolves operational hurdles in enforcing fisheries laws and updates the criteria for determining authorized fishing activities.

These amendments aim to bolster marine conservation efforts, deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, and enhance the regulatory powers of enforcement authorities.