After two rejections, High Court admits case challenging gulper shark fishery

The High Court has accepted the third petition seeking to overturn the government’s decision to allow the fishing of endangered gulper sharks in the Maldives, a significant shift after the case was twice rejected at the registration stage.

Environmental activists Humaidha Abdul Ghafoor and Mohamed Sineen, leading the Save Maldives campaign, filed the constitutional petition challenging the government’s move to issue shark‑fishing permits.

The case was first dismissed on 18 December last year, and rejected again in April. The initial dismissal stated that the matter did not amount to a constitutional issue, as the petitioners had not established whether the government’s plan constituted a law or regulation. The second rejection cited insufficient detail in the petition. Both dismissals were made during the registration process.

However, after the petitioners requested a review of the Registrar’s decision, a panel of High Court judges unanimously agreed to admit the case, allowing the appeal to proceed.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources announced in November that shark‑fishing licences would be issued to the first 40 vessels, with fishing permitted from December to June each year. Licensed vessels will be required to install tracking devices.

Historically, shark fishing in the Maldives included reef sharks, oceanic sharks and gulper sharks. The practice was banned after research showed a severe decline in shark populations. In recent years, however, fishermen have raised concerns about what they describe as an increase in shark numbers.

The government has argued that gulper shark fishing could generate significant economic returns. But a resolution submitted to Parliament warns that allowing the fishery could harm both the fishing and tourism sectors, and damage the Maldives’ international reputation for environmental protection.

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to which the Maldives is a party, the gulper shark is classified as a species threatened with extinction and is set to be listed under Appendix II.