His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called for stronger ocean science, sustainable fisheries management, and greater international cooperation, in a message shared on World Ocean Day.
In his message, the President noted that for the Maldives, the future of the nation is inseparable from the future of the ocean, and that this guides the Government’s efforts to protect reefs, manage fisheries, advance marine science, and build resilience across the islands. He stressed that the health of the people, economy, and environment depends on the health of the oceans.
The President outlined the Government’s forward-looking vision for the conservation and sustainable management of fisheries and ocean resources, guided by science, innovation, and community needs. He highlighted the Maldives’ pole-and-line fishery as a leading example of responsible ocean use, noting that it employs a selective, low-impact method which avoids destructive practices and helps protect the wider marine ecosystem.
The President also noted that as climate change accelerates ocean warming, coral bleaching, shifts in fish distribution, and coastal erosion, strengthening scientific understanding of the ocean has become a national priority. To address these challenges, the Government is strengthening marine research and evidence-based decision-making, including studies on fisheries, endangered and protected species, and nationwide monitoring of marine ecosystem health and emerging pressures.
On coral reefs, the President noted that protecting them is central to the wider effort, as they protect the islands, support biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and form an integral part of the natural heritage of the Maldives. Through continued reef health monitoring, centralised reef data management, and research into coral restoration and rehabilitation, the Government is working to ensure that reefs remain healthy, productive, and resilient in the face of a changing climate.
The President reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to playing an active role in advancing sustainable ocean management at the international level, noting that as a Small Island Developing State, the future of the oceans cannot be secured by any one country alone, and requires cooperation, solidarity, and solutions that reflect the needs of island nations and coastal communities. He called on the international community to rethink and protect the ocean with greater urgency and greater unity, stressing that the Maldives will continue to stand for sustainable fisheries, stronger ocean science, and international cooperation that leaves no island and no community behind.
On his official X account, the President further noted that this connection to the ocean is deeply personal for the Maldivian people and one that directly impacts the economy, food security, and environmental sustainability. He called on the international community to reaffirm its commitment to collective action to protect the ocean that sustains us all.