Ministry of Tourism has amended the Regulation on the Protection and Conservation of Environment in the Tourism Industry to ban tourism businesses from dumping specific types of waste into the ocean.
The tourism ministry amended the regulation following complaints of resorts damaging the environment by dumping waste into the ocean.
The regulation previously allowed tourism businesses to dump food waste and biodegradable waste into the ocean in the absence of a designated area for waste disposal in the region.
The businesses were only allowed to dump biodegradable waste in the sea outside the atoll after taking into account the wind and ocean currents so that it would not land on the shores of islands. However, public complaints over irresponsible dumping of waste grew after a resort was exposed for dumping plastic and other nonperishable waste in the sea close to the nearby islands.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated it is investigating the issue with the relevant authorities. However, the regulation dictates that the tourism ministry is responsible for investigating any violation of the regulation.