of species that was known from the Maldives prior to the formation of the Marine Research Section
in 1984. This leap in knowledge reflects the great amount of work carried out by the Centre, some
of it in collaboration with the World’s foremost authority on tropical reef fishes, Dr John E. Randall
of the Bishop Museum, Hawaii. There are undoubtedly many more species to be found in Maldivian
waters, and the grand total is likely to exceed 1500 species.
Despite the rich fish fauna, Maldives has very few endemic species (i.e. ones that are found here
and nowhere else). Even the so-called Maldive Anemonefish, Amphiprion nigripes is found in the
Lakshadweep and Sri Lanka in addition to Maldives. One species listed here that is so far known
only from the Maldives is the tiny Maldive Blenny, Ecsenius minutus.
It may seem strange that so few endemic fishes are found in Maldives, when some species appear
to move no more than few meters or even centimetres throughout there adult lives. The answer to
this riddle is to be found in the larval stage. All reef fishes have what has been called a two-phase
life history; adult and larva. While reef fishes maybe bound to the coral homes, the larvae are
planktonic and drift with the currents.
The larvae of most species drift in the open ocean for at least one week, and in some cases for
several months. During this time, they can be carried for hundreds, if not thousands of miles by the
ocean currents. As a result, the majority of Maldivian reef fishes (probably about 80 per cent) have
very wide distributions that cover the entire Indo-west Pacific or Indo-Pacific realm.
The Indian and Pacific Ocean are connected in tropical latitudes through the Indonesian Archipelago
and around the north of Australia. Therefore, the larvae of reef fishes from the two Oceans can mix.
In contrast, the tropical Atlantic Ocean is isolated from the warm waters of both the Indian and
Pacific by wide expanses of cold waters. Thus, the tropical fish fauna of the Indian Ocean and
Pacific Ocean are very similar, while that of the Atlantic is very distinct.
Interestingly, the latest research on both larval behaviour and Indo-Pacific reef fish taxonomy is
showing that things may be more complicated than this. During the last Ice Age, when sea levels
were approximately 120-130m (400ft) lower than they are today, the tropical Indian and Pacific
Oceans were nearly separated. As a result, fish populations in the two oceans started to diverge.
Today most ichthyologists agree that many Indo-Pacific fish species show differences between
their Indian and Pacific Ocean populations. In most cases, these have been considered to be
‘population’ differences within a single species. More detailed studies are now being carried out
(including studies of genetics and of the areas of population mixing in the eastern Indian Ocean).
It is becoming clear that some fish that were considered widespread, throughout the Indo-Pacific
are actually two distinct species.
In addition, recent studies on fish larvae have shown that they are not helpless in the face of Ocean
currents as was earlier believed. Indeed, they can swim against the current towards a reef for many
hours and many tens of kilometres. As such, there is basis for considering that apparently small
differences between regional populations of widespread species do have taxonomic significance. It
is therefore likely that further studies may reveal that the Maldives does have an even more unique
fish fauna than the current low number of endemics would suggest.
Maldivian fishermen favour tunas and continue to exploit these offshore fishes, as they have done
for centuries. Until relatively recently the only reef fishes caught in any quantity were the small
live baitfish which are needed for the pole and line tuna fishery. During the last decade this situation
has changed dramatically. Local demand for the reef fish has grown, in line with the growth of
resorts and of Male’. At the same time, export markets have boomed.
Reef shark stocks are now being fished heavily, as a result of the high price paid for shark fins.
However, reef sharks also have real economic value as attractions for the tourist divers. It has been
estimated that in 1992 divers spent US$ 2300000 just on visits to specific shark watching dive
sites. As tourist arrivals increase, the potential earnings from reef sharks should increase too, but
only as long as there are sharks to be seen.
An export fishery for live grouper started in 1993. This fishery too is already showing signs of
overfishing, and it is possible that it could collapse within a few years. Such a collapse would result
in enormous economic loss to the country. The main markets for both shark fins and groupers are
in the Chinese emporia of East Asia; in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China itself. The
economies of all of these counties are booming. As a direct result, demand for luxury goods and
foods is increasing enormously.
The Maldives has gained a reputation among divers and snorkellers as an oasis for large fishes. In
many other tropical countries sharks, groupers and other reef fishes have already been overfished.
This has given Maldivian tourism a competitive edge in the diving market. It would be ironic
indeed if the Maldivian reef sharks and groupers were fished too near extinction just as the Maldivian
tourist industry is reaching maturity.
We live at a pivotal time, when more is being discovered about the natural world than ever before,
but at the same time more is being lost than ever before. Without knowing what is here, it is almost
impossible to initiate meaningful management and conservation activities. This applies particularly
to marine organisms such as fish, which for too many people are “out of sight, out of mind.” It is
hoped that this volume will in a very small way contribute both towards the understanding of a key
component of the Maldivian marine environment, and its conservation.
For more details, download the document published by the Marine Research Center:
Fishes of the Maldives Second Edition (2003) [25 MB]
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