Gov’t Seeks Public Opinion on Farikede Marine Conservation
The Farikede area is a globally significant site for various pelagic species, including thresher sharks, oceanic manta rays, scalloped hammerheads, and whale sharks. | Photo: Stock Photo
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has opened a public consultation on the draft Farikede Marine Protected Area (MPA) Conservation Action Plan for 2026-2036. The government is calling for public opinion submissions by August 25, 2025.
The draft plan outlines a ten-year strategy to manage the Farikede MPA, a 636.75-hectare area established in July 2020 under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law no. 4/93). Situated on the southeastern edge of Fuvahmulah Island, the MPA is recognised as part of an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) and is a core zone of the Fuvahmulah UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
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Dive into the future of Farikede Marine Protected Area- your feedback shapes its destiny! 🦈✨
– Scan the QR code to explore the draft Conservation Action Plan
– Share your thoughts by 25 August 2025
Every comment makes waves for ocean protection! 🌊 pic.twitter.com/p3Bu6YPjzv— Protected and Conserved Areas of Maldives (@pcamaldives) August 3, 2025
The Farikede area is a globally significant site for various pelagic species, including thresher sharks, oceanic manta rays, scalloped hammerheads, and whale sharks. The plan highlights the area’s importance as a cleaning station for endangered pelagic thresher sharks, a hotspot for oceanic manta rays, and home to the world’s largest known aggregation of tiger sharks.
The Conservation Action Plan identifies several threats to the MPA, with climate change, recreational activities, and boat traffic being major concerns. It also details management objectives, such as maintaining or increasing the populations of threatened shark and ray species, and preserving the health of the coral reef. The plan proposes management actions, including the continued implementation of shark diving codes of conduct and a baseline ecological assessment of the reef.
The document also notes the social and economic importance of the MPA, particularly for the island’s dive tourism industry and local small-scale fishing. The draft plan was developed with assistance from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MOTE), Fuvahmulah City Council (FCC), and the UK’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP). Consultations with local stakeholders took place from November 2024 to October 2025.
