Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has urged the public to not disturb ray species.
EPA highlighted that snorkeling and diving activities as well as cruises sometimes disturb rays, and requested the public to plan their activities to prevent such incidents. It also urged vessels to travel three metres apart from rays and to travel slowly as they tend to surface while feeding. It noted that all species of rays are listed as protected species under the Protected Species Regulation.
Furthermore, EPA stated that stingray feeding, a popular tourism activity, is linked to various negative impacts to stingray health, behaviour and ecology, such as the development of shoaling behaviour, altered feeding habits and skin abrasions from handling that compromise their immune system. It stated it is also possible that some behavioural modifications are being learnt and transmitted to new generations of rays, risking long-term changes to ray populations where frequent feeding occurs.
EPA expressed concern about the effects of consistently high levels of feeding and visitation upon the stingray populations across the Maldives, and stated that an urgent need has been identified for long-term monitoring and phasing out of the practice. As such, it urged all resorts, guesthouses and tour operators to refrain from these harmful practices, and instead create an atmosphere for visitors to safely interact with wildlife in their natural environment. It warned that feeding and handling any species of rays is a violation under the Protected Species Regulation and action will be taken against those who continue to partake in these activities.