The opportunity for public consultation has been officially opened for the spiny dogfish fishery management plan and regulations, which have been formulated under the Maldives Fisheries Act to open the spiny dogfish fishery to the public.
Yesterday, the Fisheries Ministry published the draft copies of the spiny dogfish fishery management plan and regulations. The deadline given for the public to submit their comments on these drafts is by the end of next Sunday. Comments must be submitted using a specific form designated by the Ministry for this purpose. This form can be downloaded from the Ministry's website.
The spiny dogfish fishery management plan is a plan to organize, operate, and manage the spiny dogfish fishery. Among the objectives of these regulations are establishing a system to organize and operate the spiny dogfish fishery, managing the spiny dogfish fishery responsibly, and guiding state institutions and all stakeholders involved in sustainably advancing the spiny dogfish fishery and trade.
Under this plan, all species commonly referred to as spiny dogfish will be managed. Furthermore, this plan will apply to all activities that may affect all species of spiny dogfish conducted in the Maldives. This includes the harvesting, processing, storing, buying and selling, and exporting of spiny dogfish and spiny dogfish products. The plan will also apply to individuals, vessels, processing facilities, and export facilities engaged in any activity within the scope of this plan or any related activity.
The regulation on organizing, operating, and managing the spiny dogfish fishery is a regulation formulated with the objective of implementing the Maldives spiny dogfish fishery management plan and organizing, operating, and managing the spiny dogfish fishery and related activities. According to this regulation, a committee must be formed to advise the Ministry on the implementation and review of the spiny dogfish fishery management plan. This committee must be established within six months of the regulation coming into effect.
As stated in the regulation, participation in the spiny dogfish fishery and the spiny dogfish fishery trade will only be permitted by obtaining a license issued by the Fisheries Ministry for that purpose. Vessels engaged in the spiny dogfish fishery, all processing parties and facilities, and all parties involved in supplying spiny dogfish will be required to obtain a license.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced the government's decision to permit the spiny dogfish fishery starting from the first day of next month while speaking at a rally held in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi on August 26.
The spiny dogfish fishery is a type of fishery that was practiced in the Maldives years ago and from which fishermen derived significant benefits. It was halted due to the declining shark population in the Maldives. However, the shark population in the Maldives has now increased, and complaints from fishermen about sharks becoming a nuisance have also increased.
Reef shark fishery, oceanic shark fishery, and spiny dogfish fishery are fisheries that were practiced in the Maldives years ago.
