High Court again rejects challenge to gulper shark fishing
The government’s decision to allow the fishery has been opposed by environmental groups, advocacy organisations and members of the diving community.
The High Court on Thursday rejected for a second time a petition seeking to overturn the government’s regulations and plan to permit gulper shark fishing in the Maldives.
The government’s decision to allow the fishery has been opposed by environmental groups, advocacy organisations and members of the diving community.
The case was filed by environmental activists Humaida Abdul Ghafoor and Mohamed Seeneen. The petitioners argued that the decision to allow dogfish fishing conflicts with the Constitution and existing laws.
When the case was first submitted in December, the High Court declined to accept it, stating that a constitutional matter arises only where a specific law or regulation conflicts with the Constitution. On review, the court held that matters of general public interest fall outside its jurisdiction in this context.
The petitioners later revised their submission and refiled the case as a constitutional matter on February 2. The High Court Registrar again declined to accept the case.
The Registrar stated that the petitioners had not demonstrated how the regulations and plan conflict with the Constitution or the Fisheries Act, and that the matter could not be considered.
In a separate effort to oppose the plan, a letter was sent to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu by environmental organisations and scientists. The letter raised concerns over the absence of a stock assessment for gulper sharks, the status of the species, and wider pressures on marine ecosystems.
Shark fishing has been banned in the Maldives since 2010.
