The sharks are most definitely back in South Ari Atoll at the moment...but unfortunately so are the unregulated tourist boats.
3rd January 2010
Most of the sharks encountered by the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme team are known individuals, however, a few have been new sharks. One individual is a new female, only the fifth female in the MWSRP database. She measured 4.3 metres and hung around for a very long and interactive swim with the research team.
The reef is also busier than ever with the tourism that flocks to the whale shark 'Hotspot'.
The recent designation of the area as the largest MPA in the Maldives has inevitably attracted more tourism to the area.
The tour industry have been made aware of the rules or regulations, by the Maldivian Government, within the MPA but boats (sometimes 10 at a time) consistently converge on any shark that is spotted. Unfortunately the Government do not have the resource at this stage to have a presence in the new MPA.
