Vessels operating within the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) will be required to install propeller guards by 30 June under measures aimed at improving safety for both marine life and people using the protected area.

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy said the requirement is being implemented under the SAMPA Management Plan and applies to vessels operating within the protected waters of South Ari Atoll. The ministry said the measure is intended to reduce injuries caused by vessel propellers while also protecting equipment from damage.

The ministry clarified that propeller guards serve two main purposes. They help protect propellers and gearboxes from damage if they strike rocks or other hard objects, while also reducing the risk of serious injury to people and marine animals, including whale sharks, that may come into contact with moving propellers.

However, the ministry stressed that propeller guards alone are not sufficient to prevent accidents and said vessel operators must continue to follow established safety practices. These include maintaining a proper lookout, checking for hazards around the engine before starting it, using a kill cord whenever the engine is running, stopping the engine if there is a risk of a person in the water coming into contact with the propeller, warning passengers about the dangers of falling overboard and complying with speed limits and distance requirements set out in the management plan.

The South Ari Marine Protected Area, established in 2009, is the largest marine protected area in the Maldives, covering approximately 42 square kilometres. Stretching along a 42-kilometre section of reef from the north-western tip of Rangali Island to the north-eastern tip of Dhigurah, the area is internationally recognised for its year-round population of whale sharks and is also home to manta rays, sea turtles and diverse coral reef ecosystems.