In a move lauded by the Pew Environment Group the Maldives today declared its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), 90,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean, as a shark sanctuary free from all shark fishing and also banned all imports and exports of shark fins. The Maldives is home to more than 30 shark species, including the scalloped hammerhead, the most prominent shark to be considered for protection at the upcoming meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

IPHC, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Auke Bay Laboratory (ABL) come together to start a joint sablefish log collection program.