Fisheries Ministry Opens Sea Cucumber Export License Applications

The Ministry of Fisheries, Agricultural and Ocean Resources has opened applications for export licenses for sea cucumber exporters who have not yet obtained the required processing license.

The ministry issued the notice following the inclusion of Kachhala, or amberfish (Thelenota ananas), a sea cucumber species harvested in the Maldives, in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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The species was listed under Appendix II at the 2022 CITES conference due to evidence of a declining population. Species listed under Appendix II require export authorisation from the country’s CITES Management Authority.

ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ކުރާ ހުއިފިލަނޑާ މަސްވެރިކަމުގައި ނަގާ ބާވަތެއް ކަމަށް ވާ ކައްޗަލަ އެކްސްޕޯޓްކުރުމާ ބެހޭ.https://t.co/S2Zpbzsmfh pic.twitter.com/T2ZbRB8W62— Min of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources (@MFAORmv) August 11, 2026

The ministry said such authorisation can only be issued after a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) by the country’s CITES Scientific Authority confirms that harvesting and export quantities will not threaten the species’ population and are sustainable.

The Maldives Marine Research Institute, which serves as the country’s CITES Scientific Authority, has prepared the NDF for the amberfish fishery and determined an export quota, according to the ministry.

The ministry is now developing criteria to allocate the quota among parties that have exported sea cucumbers during the past three years and hold a sea cucumber processing licence.

Sea cucumber exporters who have not yet obtained a processing licence have been invited to apply through the ministry’s Keyolhu Portal by August 20.

For further information, the ministry can be contacted on 3322625.