Petition

Prevent the Reopening of Longline Fishing in the Maldives

31,949 signatures. The goal was 30K.

Victory: On Aug 29, 2024, President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives reaffirmed the country’s support for traditional one-by-one tuna fisheries by halting plans to issue new longline fishing licenses. This decision cements the Maldives’ reputation as a leader in sustainable tuna fishing and ensures the continued protection of vital marine species, including sharks, rays, and turtles. Over 30,000 global supporters played a crucial role in achieving this outcome by raising their voices in record time on the Only One platform to advocate #AgainstLonglining. For more updates, visit the Maldives Ocean Alliance website and follow them on Instagram at @maldivesoceanalliance.

What You Need to Know

The Maldives is a global leader in sustainable fishing practices, but recent discussions regarding the potential reopening of longline fishing in the Maldives pose significant social, economic and ecological risks.

We urge the Maldivian government to consider the potential negative impacts of longline fishing:   

  1. Social and health impacts: Longlining often leads to overfishing, reducing fish populations and affecting the livelihoods of communities that rely on sustainable, one-by-one fishing methods. Longline fishing also requires extended periods at sea, posing safety risks and potential human rights issues such as exploitation and modern slavery, all the while disrupting family and community life. In addition, bycatch often includes species with mercury levels dangerous for human consumption, which if sold and consumed, would pose significant public health risks and increase public health costs for the Maldivian population.

  2. Environmental Concerns: Longlines not only increase pressure on already-overfished tuna populations, but kill a wide range of non-target species and vulnerable animals, including sharks, turtles, manta rays, and seabirds, among the Maldives' most prized tourism assets. Longlines are often lost at sea, continuing to kill animals long after the fishing boats have left. In 2022, it was estimated that 740,000 km (about 460,000 mi) of longlines litter the ocean annually, endangering marine health and biodiversity.  

  3. Economic losses: Tourism, the Maldives' main source of income, relies on healthy marine life and habitats. Longlining represents a de facto lifting of the longstanding shark fishing ban that has been instrumental in rebuilding the health of marine life in the Maldives. The potential depletion of shark, whale shark, turtle, manta ray, and seabird populations due to longline bycatch would diminish the Maldives' appeal as a tourism destination, significantly impacting the national economy.   

Continued support for traditional one-by-one fishing practices, such as pole-and-line and handline fishing, is crucial for the prosperity of local fishing communities and the long-term health of marine ecosystems.    

We urge the Maldives to maintain and strengthen their commitment to protecting marine biodiversity and job creation for locals through the promotion of sustainable fishing and ecotourism.

Add your name to call on the Maldivian government to refrain from issuing new longline fishing licenses and ensure a healthy and economically viable future for the Maldives' ocean and its people.

Supporters
Linda P

nature needs protection

2 weeks ago
Erica K

wow just wow why in the would would this be an option

3 weeks ago
Marisela O

save nature

3 weeks ago
Anna A

we need to protect wildlife in every part of the world, to all benefit in the future.

3 weeks ago
Sina G

I love Tunas and it breaks my heart, if they were hunt by longline fishing.

3 weeks ago
Dee D

our ocean is so important.. We must protect it & all marine life.

1 month ago
Gayle H

these nets are destroying our oceans

1 month ago
Rowan S

I want nature to flourish.

1 month ago
Nano L

To prevent the reopening of longline fishing in the Maldives, a multi-faceted approach involving activism, awareness, and policy advocacy can be effec…

1 month ago
Andrew M

Because I care about the earth's oceans and forests, wildlife etc and angry about what happens to them

1 month ago
azaniel f

i like fishy

1 month ago
Dawn B

It’s the right thing to do

1 month ago
Bre F

I care.

1 month ago
Amanda R

longline fishing is indiscriminate.

1 month ago
Kathrine C

the practice is too destructive for all marine life

1 month ago
Anika R

I am signing because if you go WITh the ocean, you can not even save the environment but additional your country can earn so much more money with luxu…

1 month ago
Bev C

we need to be supporting sustainable fishing and doing everything we can to protect our oceans

1 month ago
Janet P

Humans r always damageing Nature ! I really hope we can keep this Planet in some sort of natural order 4 the future ?! 🦸🏼❤️😳

1 month ago
Razija W

Razija Wenzel

1 month ago
Ali T

Ocean wildlife needs protection from greedy humans

1 month ago
David K

Over fishing is extremely STUPID!!! (and greedy)

1 month ago
Francis B

I care about our oceans and nature. We must ban non sustainable methods which will benefit nature and local small scale fisheries.

2 months ago
christine m

We need to stop this horrible fishing technique and do it now

2 months ago
Katharina R

If all the fishes in the ocean die, the ocean dies and then we die.

2 months ago
Gfggffv G

Я не хочу чтобы человечество разрушало богатую, морскую флору и фауну, а потом ныло что у них нечего нет и какой то вид вымирает. Мы цивилизованный лю…

2 months ago
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