Touching whale sharks while snorkeling banned in amendment to regulation

The government has published an amendment to the Protected Species Regulation which bans touching whale sharks while snorkeling and sets forth the correct course of action during such encounters.

The seventh amendment to the Protected Species Regulation introduces a new section at the end of chapter six of the regulation.

The section provides instructions as to the correct course of action during encounters with whale sharks while snorkeling as well as the actions that are prohibited.

Some of the instructions outlined in the section are as follows:

• Not going closer than three meters to a whale shark
• Not going closer than four meters to a whale shark from its tail
• Swimming or snorkeling while holding onto the fins of a whale shark is prohibited
• Keeping a 20-meter distance if snorkeling above a whale shark
• Feeding whale sharks is prohibited
• Taking photos using flash is prohibited
• Using lights at night to view whale sharks is prohibited
• Flying drones lower than 30 meters from sea level to shoot whale sharks is prohibited
• Engaging in water sports and diving near areas where there are whale sharks is prohibited

The section also details the correct course of action for vessels passing areas where there are whale sharks. In this regard, driving over whale sharks is prohibited. Vessels have also been instructed against obstructing the direction that a whale shark is traveling towards.

Only three vessels at a time can be in the 250-meter contact zone surrounding a whale shark. Driving faster than five nautical miles within this zone is prohibited. Vessels should drive at a speed lower than two nautical miles when near whale sharks.

Only 12 people per vessel can disembark in the contact zone to view whale sharks, which is limited to a time period of 15 minutes.

Whale shark viewing is a common activity among tourists visiting the Maldives. Whale shark photography is not only common among tourists, but also locals.

While whale sharks are a protected species in the Maldives, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on Tuesday, underscored that harm to protected species in the was increasing year by year.