The government of the Maldives has established a 12-month commercial export quota of 10.95 tonnes for Amberfish sea cucumber (Thelenota anax, locally known as Kachchala), following its listing under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
In an official public announcement issued today, September 20, 2026, the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy stated that CITES export permits will be granted from today through September 19, 2027, in accordance with the newly finalized sustainable trade threshold.
Background: CITES Appendix II Inclusion
The international trade controls stem from the 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP19) held in November 2022, where member nations voted to include Amberfish in Appendix II, granting an 18-month preparatory period before enforcement. The listing formally came into force on May 25, 2024.
Under CITES Appendix II guidelines, international commercial trade in listed specimens requires an export permit issued by the exporting nation’s CITES Management Authority. These permits are contingent on a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) conducted by the designated Scientific Authority, which certifies that harvest and export volumes will not threaten the species' wild population or disrupt marine ecosystems.
Quota Allocation and Export Licensing
Acting as the national CITES Scientific Authority, the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI) finalized and submitted the comprehensive NDF assessment to the Ministry. The study determined sustainable harvesting thresholds, establishing a strict quota of 10.95 tonnes of dried Amberfish over a 12-month window.
Key directives of the announcement include:
Export Period: The 10.95-tonne quota applies immediately from September 20, 2026, until September 19, 2027.
Eligible Exporters: CITES export permits will be issued exclusively to licensed sea cucumber buyers and exporters identified and gazetted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources.
Compliance: The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy will issue individual permits in alignment with Fisheries Ministry regulatory criteria, up to the 10.95-tonne ceiling.
Sea cucumber harvesting is a high-value commercial trade in several Maldivian atolls, serving major export markets across East and Southeast Asia. The implementation of this CITES quota aligns local exploitation with international sustainability standards, ensuring long-term conservation of Maldivian marine biodiversity while regulating commercial trade.
