We have just returned from a wonderful cruise on the Nautilus Maldives II. Fantastic islands, turquoise Water, a beautiful very large ship, a great route and brilliant dives. We had great encounters with reef sharks, whale sharks, manta rays and many more! What more could you want?
But if you look closer, all is not paradise ... The white beaches are unfortunately often quite dirty and only see from a distance so nice out (especially on the local islands, respectively. Everywhere where no tourist resorts are) and, unfortunately, tell the guides and resort operators that the big fish are mainly in the last two years declined dramatically back!
We had luck and were allowed to see some sharks were there but still significantly less than in previous years - Mainly whitetip reef sharks. Keep your kids are rarely used. In places where they found each other at table coral 2-3 Haibabies, you now have luck when you discover the whole reef flat one or two. We currently
had sent hundreds of petitions to the Maldivian yes President that he implement the March 2010 announced prohibition of shark products. So far there were "just" a fishing ban, which is unfortunately on the uncontrollable and hardly anyone thought.
order the matter to the bottom to go we have been smart about the status quo. Thanks to the help of locals, we were able to talk with fishermen, whose main source of income is sharks. Pro Dhoni (fishing boat maled.) On average, every 3 weeks caught 200 sharks. The charge is gradually brought to the islands, salted meat and sold mainly to Sri Lanka, the fins dried and then brought to Male to Flossenhänderln. It is not caught on order - a charge fins to sell anyway in a few minutes. The bits are sold (not mainly central European) tourists, they take their island visits as souvenirs to take home. The last charge was on our visit fins already on the way to Male and probably one of the fish-packed container ships on the way to its destination. But we are proudly the fresh teeth. Sharks, tiger sharks and various reef sharks - Everything is still fresh, flexible and a testimony to the gruesome massacre.
from 15 July should now also said to connect the trade-export ban in force. This is already known in the last corner of the islands. What to do? The answer is still: "well .. until then we can be as much time as we get out and work without a break ... "
way forward then we will see ...
