- The Maldives has set a 10.95-tonne annual export quota for dried amberfish sea cucumber, following the species' inclusion in CITES Appendix II effective May 2024.
- Of the total quota, 55 percent is allocated to commercial exporters and 45 percent retained as reserve, with seven licensed companies each receiving 860 kilograms initially.
- Exporters using at least 95 percent of their quota can apply for up to 1.5 tonnes more from the reserve, and quotas may be transferred between eligible parties.
The Maldives has introduced a controlled export framework for amberfish sea cucumber, limiting dried exports to 10.95 tonnes over the next 12 months and distributing initial quotas among seven licensed companies.
The framework follows the species’ inclusion in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES. The listing was approved at the convention’s 19th Conference of the Parties in November 2022 and took effect on 25 May 2024 after an 18-month preparatory period.
Species listed under Appendix II are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but their international trade is regulated to prevent harvesting from reaching unsustainable levels. Export permits can only be issued after the exporting country’s scientific authority determines that trade will not harm the species’ survival.
The Maldives Marine Research Institute, which serves as the country’s CITES Scientific Authority, prepared a Non-Detriment Finding to assess the fishery and establish biological limits for exports.
Based on the assessment, the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources set the annual dried sea cucumber export quota at 10.95 tonnes. Of this amount, 55 percent has been allocated to commercial exporters, while the remaining 45 percent will be retained as a reserve.
Seven licensed companies have each received an initial quota of 860 kilograms:
- Ocean Tides International
- SM Investment
- Malak Investment
- Vilingili Fish Village
- Sky Go International Private Limited
- Fames Group of Industry Private Limited
- Trade Bridge Private Investment
The seven initial allocations total 6.02 tonnes, accounting for almost the full commercial allocation under the framework.
Exporters that use at least 95 percent of their initial quota may apply for an additional allocation of up to 1.5 tonnes from the reserve. Licensed exporters may also transfer part or all of their quota to another eligible party.
The flexible allocation system is intended to direct unused capacity towards active exporters while keeping overall trade within the limit established through the scientific assessment.
