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Advocacy For Marine Management: Contributions To A Policy Advocacy Initiative In The Maldives, Neal Collins
Advocacy For Marine Management: Contributions To A Policy Advocacy Initiative In The Maldives, Neal Collins
Capstone Collection
On June 5, 2009 a 42-‐km2 area of coral reef situated in the Alif Dhaalu (South Ari) atoll of the Republic of Maldives was designated the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area (S.A. MPA) due to a globally significant whale shark aggregation site. The whale shark is notorious for its gargantuan size and docile nature, which has led to a burgeoning tourist industry that gives people the opportunity to swim with the gentle giants in tropical sites such as the Maldives. The S.A. MPA receives tens of thousands of visitors a year that engage in whale shark excursions, however, there …