Increasing tourist numbers threatens existence of Maldives mantas and whale sharks

The number of travellers enjoying scuba diving in the Maldives is causing problems for the idyllic island Hanifaru Bay in the Baa Atoll which last year was declared a Marine Protected site by the government.

Every year, between the months of May and November, the south west monsoon and lunar tide creates a massive build of plankton which attracts hundreds of manta rays and huge whale sharks. The bay is a small sheltered reef and is one of two sites which acts as a cleaning station and feeding site for whale sharks.

Credit to worldtraveller5, on Flickr

Since the island was featured in the National Geographic magazine last year and more recently on a BBC Natural World documentary, there has been a significant increase in travellers from all over the world taking scuba diving holidays in the region and sometimes the number of visitors' scuba diving in the Maldives waters exceeds the number of animals.

Up to 200 manta rays and many whale sharks can be seen at one time during their feeding frenzy in the bay's Indian Ocean waters and since the area has been publicised for its thriving marine life and one of the Maldives' top diving sites, the government have had to intervene to limit the number of tourists and divers.

Credit to diverjon, on Flickr

Mohamed Fathy, island chief of nearby Dharavandhoo, explained: "Sometimes we see up to 14 boats crammed into that little space."

The Ministry of Environment has announced new regulations that the bay can only let five boats engage in the area at the same time and the number of swimmers and divers is limited to 80 at any one time.

According to Fathy, some tourists even try to touch or hug the whale sharks for photos, which is strictly forbidden, and some safari boats charge money from tourists to enjoy snorkelling or scuba diving in the Maldives bay.

General Secretary of the Youth Association of nearby island Kamadhoo, Ahmed Sameer, said that local islanders in Baa Atoll are concerned about the wildlife and are very eco-conscious residents.

Credit to EcoColors, on Flickr

"We are worried that if this goes on, the animals might stop coming and the place might be destroyed, " he explained. "Every household in the island recently signed a pact to not harvest turtle eggs or take turtles, and participate in the turtle conservation project by Four Seasons."

The government and the Baa Atoll community have yet to find a solution to manage the area and ensure that it stays as a protected and thriving spot for marine life.