The laws and regulations that protect the reefs, islands and wildlife of the Maldives – explained in plain language, with what each one protects, what is not allowed and where to read the official text.
The main environment law of the Maldives. It gives the government the power to protect nature, declare protected areas, require environmental impact assessments and stop harmful projects.
How protected areas are declared, grouped into categories, listed publicly and managed – the rules behind every protected dive site, sandbank and mangrove on Dhiveshi.
Recent change: Some protected-area boundaries have been redrawn since this regulation was made; check the official list for the current boundaries.
Lists the animals protected by law in the Maldives – including sea turtles, a tortoise, more than 200 bird species, manta rays and the whale shark – and bans catching, harming, keeping or trading them.
The law for fishing and marine resources. It sets licensing and fishing rules and, with its regulations, bans the taking of protected marine life such as sharks, rays, cetaceans and certain reef fish.
Recent change: In late 2025 new regulations opened a limited fishery for deep-water gulper sharks; check the official regulations for the current rules.
Everyday fishing rules: net fishing, lagoon fishing, protected marine species that may not be caught – including parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, giant clams, black coral, rays and cetaceans – and the fines.
Which development projects must study and report their environmental impact before they start, and how the government reviews and approves them.
Recent change: Amendments in 2025 allow projects designated as priority to follow shorter review steps and removed the assessment requirement for some project types, for a limited period.
Rules for cutting, uprooting and moving trees, and for increasing planting and greenery on the islands.
Standards for collecting, transporting, treating and storing waste – including hazardous waste – so that islands, lagoons and reefs are not polluted.
Controls on importing and exporting endangered animals and plants and products made from them, in line with the CITES convention.
In 2025 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was replaced by a new Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA), which now carries out the work the EPA used to do.
What the environment laws of the Maldives mean for everyone – residents, fishermen, divers and visitors.
Do not catch, kill, injure, keep, eat, buy or sell sea turtles, the tortoise, protected birds, manta rays, the whale shark or sharks – or anything made from them.
Some marine life may not be caught at all, including parrotfish, the Napoleon wrasse, giant clams, black coral, rays, whales and dolphins, and lobsters carrying eggs. Fishing follows licences and the fisheries rules.
Each protected dive site, sandbank, mangrove and island reserve has its own category. In the strictest ones nothing may be taken or harmed; others allow nature-friendly use such as diving and snorkelling.
Projects that may harm the environment – such as reclamation, dredging, harbours and large construction – need an environmental impact assessment and government approval before they start.
Cutting, uprooting or moving trees must follow the official procedure.
Waste must be collected, transported and treated to set standards, and listed single-use plastic products may not be imported, made or sold.
These are plain-language summaries written by Dhiveshi to help people understand the rules. They are not legal advice and not the official text. Laws and regulations change – always check the official version in the Government Gazette, or ask the responsible ministry or authority.