North Kulhudhuffushi MP Mohamed Dawoodh has stated that the Maldives’ tourism industry will not be affected by the Government’s decision to allow sustainable gulper shark fishing in Maldivian waters.

He made the remarks during a parliamentary debate on a motion submitted by Noonu Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas, calling on the Government to halt the recent approval of gulper shark fishing. The regulated fishing of gulper sharks was permitted at the beginning of November under specific conditions.

Speaking during the debate, Dawoodh said gulper shark fishing had been a major source of income for northern fishermen before it was banned in 2010. He noted that fishermen from the region had long appealed to successive governments for the opportunity to resume the practice, which had sustained livelihoods in the north.

He added that the Government of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had now heeded those long-standing concerns, creating a pathway to restore economic opportunities for fishermen in Thiladhunmathi and contribute to wider economic diversification across the country.

Dawoodh further pointed out that, following the ban, fishermen from neighbouring countries had taken advantage of the resource, entering Maldivian waters to catch sharks and sell them for profit.

Highlighting the industry’s previous economic significance, he said fishermen from Kulhudhuffushi alone had earned around MVR 5 million per week from shark fishing before the ban, while those in Thiladhunmathi collectively earned about MVR 35 million per month. Fishermen across the northern atolls, including those involved in fish processing, generated over MVR 100 million monthly from the industry.

Dawoodh added that shark fishing is conducted far offshore and therefore would not harm the Maldives’ tourism sector.