Maldives exclusivity no more!

liquid-destination's picture
liquid-destination started the topic in Saturday, 8 Mar 2014 at 4:12pm

The Maldivian government passed a law yesterday ending exclusive rights for any of the resorts in the Maldives. So surfers or divers can go anywhere in the Maldives. This has been a long fought battle by the locals and safari boat vessels to end this exclusivity law that has existed in the Maldives.
The difficulty with this situation has always been that the people responsible for assisting in establishing the exclusivity laws in this country stem right back to what would be classed as the founding forefathers of modern surfing in the Maldives. From the start right through to the surf travel companies that exist today they showed the resorts the value of their asset by guaranteeing bookings if the resorts could enforce the mythical "house reef" law. This is a defined perimeter that effectively stops people trespassing onto islands that the resorts have paid to lease from the government that can extend into the water line thus surfing comes within that boundary. The distance was never set into a contract that I ever saw or asked people to produce. And I never saw anything banning the act/art of surfing within this supposed boundary.
Basically the surf travel companies had a better product to sell if they could limit the numbers of surfers in the water.
This makes a lot of sense for them and their clients but where does that leave everyone else who lives/surfs in this country. I totally understand their thought process and business transaction but to stop locals from surfing their own country and to stop anyone from surfing "their own wave" whilst allowing their guests to be dropped off at the waves the boats were surfing is not something I could ever fathom. I fully respect all these guys who send surfers all around the world and they do a darn good job of it but I think in the Maldives money got the better of these guys and steps that are now about to be taken (I am told) should of been looked at a long time ago, sustainable surf tourism in the Maldives not an industry based upon who can strike what deal with which powerful figures over here.
So now North Male and South Male are open. So you can now surf Lohi's, Pasta, Sultans, Honky's, Quarters and Kandooma again.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 8:09am

Im glad to hear this about the Maldives as stops other places like anywhere in Indo getting funny ideas, we all hate crowds but money should never be the decider on who can surf a break or not it goes against the whole spirit of surfing.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 8:53am

is this for real? If so, bravo.

Feudalism and neo-colonialism suck dogs balls.

donweather's picture
donweather's picture
donweather Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 11:58am

It appears as though it might be for real Steve.........

http://www.liveaboardassociation.mv/news/view/e369853df766fa44e1ed0ff613...

Although I can't be for sure as I can't read Maldivian:

http://www.gazette.gov.mv/v3/gazette/download/3041

LD, I am confused though....so does this new law passed overrule the previous ruling that permitted the new resort on Sultans/Honkies to have exclusivity?

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 12:12pm

Thats what I'm wondering .....and all the ads I've seen by some surf travel companies spruiking that exclusivity.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 12:14pm

I'm trying to get to the bottom of it now. Will report back shortly.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 1:39pm

Just spoke to one of the operators who will benefit if the law is repealed. He's noting that the LAM announcement stated the changes will come into effect “once a public announcement is made by government and a surf management plan is implemented.”

As yet the Maldivian government haven't issued a public notice, so he's waiting for official confirmation before releasing a public statement. In his words, "we want to be sure of the facts."

There's a been a lot of to-and-fro on this issue so I understand his desire to get the facts right. Stay tuned...

liquid-destination's picture
liquid-destination's picture
liquid-destination Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014 at 5:29pm

I'll get back to you on this Stu. I've sent an email to the president of LAM and will also get in touch with the tourism minister to see if there was a clause saying we have to wait for this announcement. I received a phone call the minute this happened from someone who spoke direct to the tourism minister and they didn't mention any of this. You never know though as it was pretty big news and people may have just got a bit excited about this finally being resolved.

TPW's picture
TPW's picture
TPW Thursday, 13 Mar 2014 at 10:34am

It looks pretty solid boys from what i have seen as we have translated the amendment to the law, which means that sanity has prevailed and a Maldives free of exclusive waves. The management plan for the resort breaks is what is being discussed by LAM, MSA and the ministry, so we will see what happens there.

the-spleen's picture
the-spleen's picture
the-spleen Thursday, 13 Mar 2014 at 10:42am

When/ if it's confirmed could you please let us know on here? It could affect travel plans this year and I'd like to get the story straight.

tonka's picture
tonka's picture
tonka Tuesday, 1 Apr 2014 at 7:05pm

Any update on this?

streetdaddy's picture
streetdaddy's picture
streetdaddy Friday, 4 Apr 2014 at 6:58pm
tonka wrote:

Any update on this?

+1!

Wilson's r's picture
Wilson's r's picture
Wilson's r Monday, 21 Apr 2014 at 6:53am

What the heck is going on with this situation,bold announcements then silence.
Any idea when any new rules will take affect?
Trying to plan a trip to Maldives in July,will there still be exclusivity at Sultans/Honkeys/Pasta Point/Lohis in July?
Any update would be appreciated

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 21 Apr 2014 at 7:47am

Fellas, I'll have an update this week. There have been some developments but a bit hard to be certain if they're confirmed. I'll find out what I can.

Wilson's r's picture
Wilson's r's picture
Wilson's r Monday, 21 Apr 2014 at 10:56am

Cheers Stu.

coopdawg's picture
coopdawg's picture
coopdawg Wednesday, 23 Apr 2014 at 8:10pm

im going to the Maldives at the end of may and have been notified that all the breaks have been opened to the public.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 23 Apr 2014 at 8:26pm

notified by who ?

coopdawg's picture
coopdawg's picture
coopdawg Tuesday, 20 May 2014 at 12:20am

the company im going with who were told by the Maldivian government @udo

mikejudah's picture
mikejudah's picture
mikejudah Thursday, 21 Aug 2014 at 1:48pm

Resort exclusivity is the future! Believe me I did not always have this opinion. 10 years ago I was involved in campaigning for Tavarua exclusivity to be scrapped. Now I'm saddened I did. Having been to Indo & Fiji regularly since the early 90's - I never would have believed how crowded the surf has become. I was in the Mentawai's in June 2014 & the crowds have completely destroyed the place. I was wanting to take my wife to the Maldives next year to enjoy some uncrowded waves but this will be no different from the Mentawai's if exclusivity is abolished. I know there negatives to the debate - but if you could look 10 years into the future you would see the positives.

tonybarber's picture
tonybarber's picture
tonybarber Wednesday, 27 Aug 2014 at 7:54pm

MikeJudah - Agree. There are no negatives. The boat tours can move to the many choices whilst the resort people should be able to have their piece. Also, this may push for artificial reefs / points around the populated areas.

paulholloway2019's picture
paulholloway2019's picture
paulholloway2019 Tuesday, 10 Sep 2019 at 5:29pm

That is very true: "the surf travel companies had a better product to sell if they could limit the numbers of surfers in the water". But on the other hand now they can sell more, can't they?
https://cheapessaywriter.net/

VivianHudson's picture
VivianHudson's picture
VivianHudson Friday, 1 May 2020 at 12:35am

Your first step in writing a dissertation is preparing a research proposal. Do you think you can't cope with such a task? Take a look at this page https://thesisleader.com/research-proposal/. You'll find some really useful information and also professional writing support.

keano's picture
keano's picture
keano Thursday, 11 Jun 2020 at 8:37pm

.

kittydurgans's picture
kittydurgans's picture
kittydurgans Thursday, 4 Mar 2021 at 6:52pm

I was fascinated by the gameplay and needed some thought to play it. cookie clicker slope unblocked

itsmonika's picture
itsmonika's picture
itsmonika Tuesday, 13 Apr 2021 at 6:53pm

I have never been to the Maldives, but I have heard so much about the islands and beaches there that I could write a long novel on it if I wanted to. This new legislation on surfers will definitely be a turning point for https://www.theacademicpapers.co.uk/ surfers.

watsonzz's picture
watsonzz's picture
watsonzz Monday, 31 May 2021 at 1:14pm

This is a defined perimeter that effectively stops people trespassing onto islands that the resorts have paid to lease from the government that can extend into the water line thus surfing comes within that boundary. Stickman Hook