The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an urgent appeal to halt the illegal feeding of protected rays across the Maldives, citing a concerning rise in the practice that has led to several fatal incidents.

Several accidents have occurred due to sharks gathering in feeding areas, with both ray stings and shark encounters posing risks to swimmers and divers, according to a press released issued by EPA on Thursday.

The practice disrupts rays' natural behaviour patterns and has led to increased shark presence in popular swimming areas. Tourism operators have reported growing concerns, with international visitors objecting to these activities, threatening the Maldives' reputation as a sustainable tourism destination.

While ray-watching and swimming remain popular tourist activities, all ray species in the Maldives are protected under the Protected Species Regulation (2021/R-25). The EPA emphasises these encounters must be conducted within legal guidelines.

The agency has announced enforcement action against violators and called for all ray-watching activities to be conducted safely and in accordance with environmental protection guidelines, ensuring both human safety and marine conservation.