New Regulation Requires Propeller Guards on Whale Shark Tour Boats
The government has introduced a new regulation requiring vessels conducting whale shark tours in the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) to be fitted with propeller guards.
SAMPA, which spans 140 square kilometres, extends from the northwest of ADh Rangeli Reef to the northern corner of ADh Dhigurah. It also includes a one-kilometre zone beyond the reefs of the islands within this area. Whale sharks can be observed in SAMPA throughout the year.
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The regulation follows multiple incidents of injuries to both snorkellers and whale sharks. A recent fatal accident involving a tourist who was struck by a passing speedboat while snorkelling has highlighted safety concerns.
A plan published by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment has set a three-month deadline for vessels conducting whale shark tours to install propeller guards. The requirement will be extended to all other vessels operating in the area within 12 months of implementation.
Additionally, the plan mandates that all vessels engaged in snorkelling and diving activities within SAMPA must register with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Operators have three months to complete the registration process through the OneGov portal.
To manage human activity in the area, the regulation limits the number of individuals in the water at any given time to 60, with these individuals coming from the four nearest vessels.
The policy also establishes a 250-metre contact zone around whale sharks, allowing no more than three vessels in the area simultaneously. Within this zone, vessels must adhere to a maximum speed of five knots per hour. Speed must be further reduced to two knots per hour within 50 metres of a whale shark. In emergencies, speedboats are permitted to exceed five knots when exiting the area.
Whale sharks were classified as an endangered species in July 2016 on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
