The Climate Change, Environment and Energy Minister Thoriq Ibrahim has announced mandatory boat propeller guards for whale shark tour vessels to protect the marine giants and their habitat.

A dedicated vessel will oversee tourist operations, whilst a registration system will be implemented within three months, Minister Thoriq revealed to local media.

The announcement follows concerns over unregulated tourism activities, particularly in the South Ari Marine Park (SAMPA), the nation's largest protected area. The Minister expressed alarm over instances where up to a hundred guests would pursue a single whale shark, with vessels entering protected areas without oversight.

Despite having 93 protected areas nationwide, only five are actively managed, highlighting significant conservation challenges.

The Ministry will soon gazette regulations establishing a safe whale shark observation system. These rules build upon guidelines introduced last year, which designated a 250-metre "contact zone" around whale sharks, limiting presence to three boats simultaneously.

Speed restrictions within these zones have been set at five knots per hour, reducing to two knots within 50 metres of a whale shark. Vessels may exceed these limits only in emergencies to exit the zone.

The measures follow guidelines established last year for sustainable whale shark tourism, which included protocols for handling injured or sick specimens.

These reforms represent a significant overhaul of whale shark tourism regulations in the Maldives, addressing concerns about tourist interactions with these protected species.