Maldives Sets 10.95-Tonne Quota for Amberfish Exports

Maldives has set an annual export quota of 10.95 tonnes of dried amberfish for the next 12 months, the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources has announced.

The quota will apply from 20 September 2026 to 19 September 2027, or until the allocated quota has been fully exhausted, according to the ministry.

Amberfish, a species of sea cucumber harvested in the Maldives, was listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at the organisation’s 2022 conference, following evidence of declining global populations.

Under CITES Appendix II requirements, international trade in listed species is subject to permits and must be supported by a finding that the trade will not be detrimental to the species’ wild population.

The Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), acting as the country’s CITES Scientific Authority, prepared a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) for the amberfish fishery and established the maximum export quota.

The ministry said the rules governing the use of the quota are set out in the Regulation on the Implementation of the Export Quota for Amberfish from the Maldives.

Exporters will be required to obtain both a Catch Certificate issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources and a CITES Permit issued by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy.