The Maldives Takes Significant New Step to Enhance Conservation of Whale Sharks With National Regulation

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 the majestic gentle giants who

make their home in our waters. Key provisions of the new regulation include maintaining a

safe distance from whale sharks, with a minimum of three metres from their bodies and

four metres 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 metres above sea level and

within the operator's line of sight. It also designates a 250-metre 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 metres of the whale shark. Emergency protocols

are established for vessels, ensuring that whale sharks are not obstructed or disturbed

during their natural behaviours.