The Netflix series All The Sharks, which premiered on Friday, has put Fuvahmulah on the world stage.

In its debut episode, the series focused exclusively on Fuvahmulah before exploring other world-renowned shark hotspots in later episodes. The show is structured as a competition, with divers racing to photograph different shark species across six locations. Contestants earn points based on the rarity of their encounters, competing for a grand prize of USD 50,000, which will be donated to a marine charity chosen by the winners.

Fuvahmulah, locally celebrated as the “shark island,” is a deserved feature. Recent research has recorded 239 individual tiger sharks in its waters over six years - the highest number for a single location globally. The abundance of these impressive predators is so notable that contestants in the series could only earn three points for photographing a tiger shark, reflecting just how common they are here. More elusive species, like pelagic thresher sharks and even oceanic mantas (classified as sharks for the show’s purpose), drew more competitive interest.

While being showcased on a global streaming platform is an undeniable milestone for Fuvahmulah’s shark-diving industry, it also raises critical questions. At present, there are no official national guidelines in the Maldives for shark diving, and that is deeply concerning.

Local dive centres do stress the importance of responsible behaviour, such as not hand feeding, chasing, or touching these animals. Yet this alone may not be enough. As Fuvahmulah enjoys its moment in the global limelight and a growing boom in dive operators cashing in on its tiger shark fame, there is an urgent need for the Government to introduce stricter regulations and consistent enforcement to protect both sharks and divers.

If we want Fuvahmulah’s unique ecosystem to thrive for future generations, profit cannot be the only priority. Shark tourism must be managed with care, backed by science and community consultation, to ensure that the very creatures drawing in visitors today are still there tomorrow. All The Sharks may have reminded the world that Fuvahmulah is a tiger shark paradise - now it is time for us to safeguard it.