Shocking Discovery of Mutilated Sharks in Marine Protected Area
Photo: Anonymous source
A shocking video surfaced on social media yesterday, depicting three grey sharks cruelly mutilated and weighed down by concrete blocks on the reef, as shallow as 12 meters. The incident, captured by a concerned diver on Instagram, has raised concern from marine conservationists as the sharks were found in the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA).
“(We were) diving on Ariadhoo Beyru/Corner. We dropped down and a couple of minutes in I noticed the caudal fin of a shark, which on closer inspection turned out to be a deceased grey reef shark” said the diver who made the chilling find.
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According to the source who requested to stay anonymous, the shark had a fishing line wrapped around the base of its caudal fin, which was attached to a concrete block and had been dropped onto the reef about 12 metres below the surface. There were also what looked like some slice marks on its side.
The horror didn’t end there. As the dive continued, approximately 15 minutes later, another tragic sight greeted the divers: another grey reef shark, also deceased, lying on the seabed around 22 meters below, similarly ensnared in fishing line. And yet again, around 15 minutes later, the divers encountered a third shark, in a chillingly familiar setup, tethered to a concrete block at a depth of 12 meters.
The diver expressed shock and sorrow, remarking, “Obviously the overall dive was incredibly shocking and upsetting to myself and the divers I was with, but also frankly embarrassing as we were diving in SAMPA – a marine protected area where fishing, especially of sharks, is supposed to be illegal.”
Chloe Winn of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme echoed the diver’s sentiments, decrying the heart-wrenching sight and highlighting the added pressure of unsustainable whale shark tourism on the area. She stated, “It is incredibly disheartening to see this happening in South Ari Marine Park, in addition to the negative human pressure already put upon the area with unsustainable whale shark tourism.”
The Maldives, renowned for its tourism, implemented a ban on shark fishing and the export of shark fins in 2010. However, despite these efforts, incidents of illegal fishing and trade persist, casting a shadow over Maldives conservation endeavours.
Despite the prohibition, incidents of illicit shark fin and meat exportation persist. In January 2021, Maldives Customs intercepted 21 boxes containing fins from sharks caught within the country, with a combined weight of 429 kilograms, intended for unlawful exportation via Velana International Airport. Allegations surfaced on social media, implicating corrupt government officials in the trafficking.
The economic value of sharks to the Maldivian tourism industry cannot be overstated. A single grey reef shark is estimated to contribute USD $3,300 to the tourism sector, as revealed in a 2009 study, underscoring the importance of preserving these apex predators and the delicate balance of marine ecosystems they help maintain. In contrast, a landed catch would only bring in USD $32 in revenue.
The discovery serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced conservation measures and stricter enforcement within marine protected areas.
