Maldives Marine Aquarium Fishery Management Plan 2020
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Maldives Marine Aquarium Fishery Management Plan 2020 AUGUST 2020 DRAFT Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources & Agriculture Malé, Maldives 1 Table of Contents List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Part 1: Preamble ................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Introduction and Title ............................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Scope and Application .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Guiding Principles .................................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Entry into Force ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Part 2: Habitat and Ecology ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Species and Their Habitats ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Invertebrates in the MAF ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Ecology ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Part 3: Overview of the Fishery ........................................................................................................................ 12 3.1 Inception and Development .................................................................................................................. 12 3.2 Areas utilized ........................................................................................................................................... 12 3.3 Collection Methods ................................................................................................................................. 13 3.4 Export Trends .......................................................................................................................................... 13 3.5 Demography and Socio-economic Status ............................................................................................ 15 3.6 Reef Area in Use ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Part 4: Purpose, Objectives and Strategies ....................................................................................................... 17 4.1 Overall Purpose ....................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Objectives and Strategies........................................................................................................................ 17 Part 5: Previous Management Measures .......................................................................................................... 22 Part 6: Management Measures Under This Plan ............................................................................................. 23 6.1 Establishment of an Advisory Committee ........................................................................................... 23 6.2 Licensing ................................................................................................................................................... 24 6.3 Fishing Gears and Methods ................................................................................................................... 28 6.4 Involvement of foreign nationals in MAF operations ........................................................................ 28 6.5 Total Allowable Export (TAE) Limit .................................................................................................... 28 6.6 Export Requirements .............................................................................................................................. 29 6.7 Precautionary Measures ......................................................................................................................... 30 6.8 Best Practices ............................................................................................................................................ 31 6.9 Offences and Penalties ............................................................................................................................ 31 2 Part 7: Implementation of the Plan ................................................................................................................... 33 Part 8: Reviewing the Management Plan ......................................................................................................... 33 References .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Annex 1: Glossary .............................................................................................................................................. 35 Annex 2: List of TAE for Each Species ............................................................................................................. 37 List of Tables Table 1: Top 20 most exported species in 2017 and their habitats ....................................................................... 7 Table 2: Three potential keystone species within the 20 most exported MAF species in 2017 ...................... 11 Table 3: Breakdown of each objective, by strategies, actions, time frame and responsible parties. .............. 18 Table 3: Details of license categories, their respective fees and period of validity .......................................... 28 Table 5: Listed of offenses and their respective penalties ................................................................................... 31 List of Figures Figure 1: Percentage of invertebrates in annual MAF exports from Maldives, from 2015-2017. ................... 10 Figure 2: Total number of MAF exports and associated FOB from 1997-2015 ................................................ 14 Figure 3: Comparison between the average exports and FOB to major export destinations, from 1997- 2015.. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 4: Percentage exports to Sri Lanka from 1997-2019. ................................................................................ 14 3 Abbreviations EPA Environment Protection Agency FAD Fish Aggregating Device FIS Fisheries Information System IGO Intergovernmental Organisation LGA Local Government Authority MCS Maldives Customs Services ME Ministry of Environment MFDA Maldives Food and Drug Authority MIRA Maldives Inland Revenue Authority MMRI Maldives Marine Research Institute MNDF-CG Maldives National Defence Force, Coast Guard MoED Ministry of Economic Development MoFMRA Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture MPS Maldives Police Services RFMOs Regional Fisheries Management Organisations SWIOFC Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission TAE Total Allowable Exports 4 Part 1: Preamble 1.1 Introduction and Title 1.1.1 The plan shall be cited as “Maldives Marine Aquarium Fishery Management Plan” (herein referred to as the Plan). 1.1.2 The Plan is made pursuant to Article 18 of law no. (14/2019), the “Fisheries Act of the Maldives” and constitutes a regulation made under this Act. 1.1.3 The Plan provides for the management of the fishery stated in reference to Article 17(a), Section (8) of the Act No. 14/2019 (Fisheries Act of the Maldives). 1.2 Scope and Application 1.2.1 Species and Activities (a) This Plan shall apply to all species harvested for aquarium and ornamental purposes, including, but not limited to, all species exported using the Maldives Customs Service identifier label “Live Ornamental Fish”. (b) This Plan shall apply to all activities associated with the fishing, fishing related activities, packing, trading and exporting of all species listed in 1.2.1 (a). 1.2.2 Parties (a) The Plan applies to all parties engaging in all activities targeting species listed in 1.2.1 (a) (b) The Plan also applies to all parties, vessels, processing and export facilities or places engaged in or otherwise connected with any activity within the scope of this plan. 1.2.3 Exemption The management measures in this Plan shall not apply to persons or parties who are undertaking an activity within the scope of this Plan for research