Atoll Editions

A welcome outcome

📣 Announcement! The Maldivian government has decided not to resume longline fisheries.

🇲🇻 The Maldivian government has reaffirmed its commitment to local fishers by deciding not to resume longlining, a practice that could harm marine ecosystems. We commend the President of the Maldives for supporting only one-by-one tuna fisheries, ensuring the country remains among the world's most sustainable tuna producers.

🎣 Longline fishing is a large threat to manta rays. This fishing method uses miles of baited hooks, which unfortunately often catch non-target species like manta rays, leading to serious injuries or death. Additionally longlines are often lost in the ocean, harming or killing marine life long after the boats have left. Manta rays are especially vulnerable because they reproduce slowly, giving birth to just one pup every few years. This means even a small number of accidental catches can have devastating effects on their populations.

🤿 Manta rays are crucial for healthy marine ecosystems and contribute significantly to tourism in places like the Maldives, benefiting local communities that depend on this sector. By choosing to support sustainable fishing methods and avoiding harmful practices like longlining, we can help protect manta rays!

🙏 Thank you to everyone who signed the petition to prevent the reopening of longline fishing in the Maldives.

📸 Jasmine Corbett

So disappointing to see the Maldives Government even considering this retrograde policy. They have developed a thriving tourist trade and respect for their conservation initiatives. Now they want to throw all that goodwill away.

True power

Featherfin (F-001) demonstrating the true power and ferocity of a tiger shark while feasting on a fish head 🐟🦈 #tigersharks #tigersharkzoo #shark #sharkdiving #fuvahmulah #fuvahamulahdiving #fuvahmulahdiveschool #scubadiving #padi #paditv #underwater #underwaterphotography #maldives #visitmaldives

A bit late for International Whale Shark Day, but a reminder prompted me to note an example of the popular appeal of this Ocean Shark. For many in the colder southern climes of Australia, their first encounter with a whale shark is this sculpture on the wall of the Apollo Bay Fisherman’s co-op. It was inherited from the 2005 Commonwealth Games after the Maldives team used it as their country emblem. What a talking point it has been over many years! It is now in dire need of maintenance, but we think it is worth keeping.

Phillippe Laurelle, sailor, artist and friend to many. A Maldives tourism pioneer passes on.

Maldives' liveaboard tourism pioneer Philippe Laurella dies | Atoll Times Laurella designed his first safari boat, ‘Baraabaru', soon after he arrived in the Maldives, kick-starting the modern liveaboard tourism industry.

Happy New Year…

The coral database

CoralDatabase Introducing the Coral Database, a national, online database for storing and managing information on the state and health of marine ecosystems in the Maldives.

Atoll Editions now has a new book in Australia: Shore Life of the Great Ocean Road. For more information click here: facebook.com/shorelifeGOR

Shore Life of the Great Ocean Road A identification guide to the shore life of the Great Ocean Road, by Tim Godfrey and Sally McPhee. Available online and at selected retailers.

An updated Resort Map of the Maldives (March 2022) has been printed and is now available in the Maldives.