The government of the Maldives has announced a plan to employ long-line fishing to increase productivity.

This news has shocked environmentalists, for the Maldives has a long history of enivornmental-friendly pole and line fishery. Even when fishermen had opted for modern, mechanizalized boats, the traditional way of fishing has remained "the hallmark feauture of a unique fishing culture"

Long line fishery has been much criticized worldwide for its harm to numerous species caught as by-catch, such as sharks, turtles, and seabirds. This method of fishery could lead to the death of sharks in the Maldivian waters, even though the Maldives has imposed a ban of shark fishery.

?We are implementing a total ban and then starting something that is shark fishing by another name,? Ali Rilwan, the Executive Director of Bluepeace, told the local online newspaper Minivan News.
?And the larger problem is how we will be perceived; our fish export is marketed abroad as one that is caught through a dolphin and environmentally friendly method,? Rilwan said.

A UK marine conservation group and a global retail giant has already expressed their intentions of boycotting and discontinuing the purchase of Maldivian tuna if it resorts to such fishery techniques.

Source: http://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/blog/biodiversity/long-line-fishery-controversy-maldives