President Calls for Stronger Ocean Science, Sustainable Fisheries, and International Cooperation
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called for stronger ocean science, sustainable fisheries management, and greater international cooperation in a message marking World Ocean Day.
According to the President’s Office, President Muizzu said the future of the Maldives is inseparable from the future of the ocean, a reality that continues to guide the government’s efforts to protect coral reefs, manage fisheries sustainably, advance marine science, and strengthen resilience across the islands. He stressed that the health of the nation’s people, economy, and environment depends on the health of the oceans.
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The president outlined the government’s vision for the conservation and sustainable management of fisheries and ocean resources, guided by science, innovation, and the needs of local communities. He highlighted the Maldives’ pole-and-line fishery as a leading example of responsible ocean use, noting that the selective and low-impact fishing method avoids destructive practices and helps safeguard the wider marine ecosystem.
The President’s Office stated that climate change is accelerating ocean warming, coral bleaching, shifts in fish distribution, and coastal erosion, making a stronger scientific understanding of the ocean a national priority. To address these challenges, the government is expanding marine research and strengthening evidence-based decision-making through studies on fisheries, endangered and protected species, and nationwide monitoring of marine ecosystem health and emerging environmental pressures.
On coral reef conservation, President Muizzu said reefs remain central to the country’s environmental protection efforts. He noted that reefs protect islands, support biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and form an integral part of the Maldives’ natural heritage. The government continues to support reef health monitoring, centralized reef data management, and research into coral restoration and rehabilitation to help reefs remain healthy and resilient amid changing climate conditions.
The President also reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to advancing sustainable ocean management at the international level. He said that, as a small island developing state, the Maldives recognises that no single country can secure the future of the oceans alone. He emphasised the importance of cooperation, solidarity, and solutions that reflect the needs of island nations and coastal communities.
President Muizzu also called on the international community to rethink and protect the ocean with greater urgency and unity. He said the Maldives would continue to advocate for sustainable fisheries, stronger ocean science, and international cooperation that leaves no island or community behind.
In a separate post on his official X account, the president described the Maldivian people’s connection to the ocean as deeply personal, noting its direct impact on the economy, food security, and environmental sustainability. He also urged the international community to reaffirm its commitment to collective action to protect the ocean that sustains all nations.
