Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended the export of injured turtles.
EPA said the permit has been temporarily suspended until the turtle management plan is published in the gazette. The turtles that have been injured/disabled and cannot be released back to their natural environment are exported to overseas aquariums which are permitted by EPA.
Various species of turtles are found in the seas of Maldives. Photos and videos circulating on social media show that such turtles are rarely injured in the marine environment of Maldives. The turtles have suffered various injuries from being caught in fishing nets and plastic bottles. At the same time, environmentalists are concerned that the death rate of turtles from the consumption of plastic is increasing.