BOBLME-2009-REG-5.0-IWS-13
BOBLME Inception Workshop
Developments Update - Maldives
3-5 November 2009
Bangkok, Thailand
MS Adam, M. Zuhair & H. Sinan
Outline of the presentation
· Considered relevant information in the major headings
provided by the RC
Governance
Legal instruments
Resources conservation
Critical habitat protection
Mitigation of land-based sources of pollution
Fisheries management
Data collection systems
Large scale oceanographic / environmental surveys
Major donor supported projects
List of major stakeholders (public + private)
Preparedness of implementation
Governance
· Civil Service Act; effective March 2008
· Decentralization of the administration of the
atolls
Devolution of Ministry of Atolls Administration
Establishment of the new provincial system
· Changes to key ministries relevant to the Project
Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture
· Change in name only
Ministry of Housing Transport and Environment
· Previously Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water
Legal Instruments / Regulations
· Amendment to existing Fisheries Regulation
Description of penalties for effective implementation of the
fishery management
· Draft New Fisheries Bill
Started work in 2002; submitted to Parliament in 2007; but
was rejected; A revision was undertaken through
consultative process. Revised one to be re-submitted in
2010
· Draft New Environmental Bill
Draft completed; open for public comments; to be
submitted Parliament in 2010.
Fisheries Management
· Regional
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission; Preparations for
participating as a Non-contracting Cooperating Member
completed. To be submitted in due course. Full member
participation pending approval from the Parliament
BOBP IGO Full member
· National
Compliance on EU IUU Fishing Agreement; licensing of
vessel and fish processors, issuing catch certificates to
export consignments
Third party certification process ongoing
Fisheries Management ...
· National (contd..)
· Fisheries Management Plans
Shark (NPoA) Draft completed, public consultations
process to be started.
Groupers, preliminary plan completed
· Extension of (local) Turtle Moratorium
10 more years from August 2008; ban on harvest of turtle
eggs during the moratorium period
IOSEA Turtle Moratorium (looks like Maldives would sign this
soon?)
Resource Conservation
· Ban of Shark fishing
Effective March 2009, shark fishing is banned from
within 12 mile of atoll boundaries.
Effective from March 2010 all shark fishing (targeted
fishery) will be banned from the EEZ of Maldives
· Baa Atoll pilot atoll ecosystem conservation
Protected dive sites, bird roosting / nesting island
Critical Habitat Protection
· National Biodiversity Target of 2010
Protect 5-10% of Maldives atoll area
· 31 Protected areas, dive sites, including reefs, islands,
mangroves, and coastal areas
Eedhigalhi Kilhi, in Addu Atoll (South Maldives Seenu
Atoll)
Protected Area; most recent been Angafaru, Hanifaru in
Baa Atoll and South Maamigili Reef area in Ari Atoll
(Central Maldives)
Proposed UNESCO Biosphere reserve, Baa Atoll
Proposal for managing protected areas through private
sector participation
Baa Atoll
1. Most recent protected areas
2. Pilot activities of AEC Project
3. Proposed UNESCO Biosphere
Reserve
Mitigation of land-based pollution
· Development of island waste management
centers (IWMCs)
Following tsunami, IWMCs have been constructed
over 100+ islands.
· EU-supported pilot project to establish a regional
waste management centre
ADH Atoll (for central region) study completed
MEMP North Central Region
Data Collection, Compilation System
· MEMP GIS database; to be housed in Dept. of
National Planning
GIS Web-based platform; terrestrial and coral reef
monitoring data;
· Fisheries Statistics System
In response to EU-IUU Fisheries Agreement Compliance;
Overhauling of fisheries data base;
· Incorporation of log-books (first phase piloting complete); fishing
vessel registry; computerizing of fisheries licensing; database for
fish processing facilities;
· Compilation of EIA baseline data
Oceanographic / Environmental
Resource Surveys
· Valuing Biodiversity The economic case for
biodiversity conservation in the Maldives, Emerton,
Baig and Saleem (2009)
· National Environmental Action Plan III, (NEAP III
· National Sustainable Development Strategy
· National Strategy and Action Plan, under MFF
· Baseline Ecological Assessment of Baa Atoll done by
AEC Project
· Natural Resource Valuation Study - EPA and SANDEE
Major Donor Assisted Projects
· Maldives Environment Management Project; loan assistance from
WB (2008 2013)
Regional solid waste component for North Central Region
Capacity Building for Environmental Management
Technical Assistance for a Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment
Project Management and Project Communication
· Atoll Ecosystem Conservation Project (AEC Project); Implemented by
MHTE with support from GEF and UNDP (2003 extended to 2010)
Mainstream biodiversity concerns into sectoral institutions and policies
To conserver biodiversity in Baa Atoll through innovative policies
To support local stake holders to pilot sustainable natural resource
management and livelihood development practices in Baa Atoll
· Waste Management pilot study for RWMCs, EU
List of Relevant Government
Institutions
· MHTE
EPA
· MoFA
MRC
· Atoll Provinces
· MoTCA
· Civil Society
Maldives Science Society, Fisherman's Association, Maldives Fish
Exporters Association, Atolls and Island Councils (pending ratification
of relevant law)
· NGOs
Ecocare, Blue Peace,
Preparedness
· Strengthened Institutional reforms
Creation of Fishery Management Unit within MoFA
ERC evolved into EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
MRC ; more research focus
· Changes in representation of the Fishery Advisory Board
· HR and capacity developments in key ministries
MRC, MoFA, EPA, MHTE
· Greater involvement of the stake-holders and NGOs in
decision making
Maldives Fish Exporters Association
Fishermen's Association
Province Offices (in future atoll / island councils)
Preparedness ...
· National Task Force
Requires re-formulation in the light of the Government
restructuring
· Project Advisory Panel
Needs to be created
· Project Steering Committee Members
Need the official nominations.
Priority Activities
· Bait Fishery Research
Potential problem for development & management of tuna fisheries
Stock assessment, environmental effects of distribution and abundance
· Coral Reef Monitoring
Critical for fisheries and tourism.
· Adaptation measures for coastal erosion and mitigation
Coastal erosion, a difficult to issue to deal
· Reef Fishery Research and Monitoring
Data / information gap; some requires urgent management interventions
· Shark Fisheries Monitoring
Keystone species, regulates ecosystem function, high economic tourism
value
· Capacity Building
Questions?