Police say they are ‘looking into’ stingray cruelty near Fish Market after video goes viral

A foreigner has been arrested for allegedly dragging a cowtail stingray onto the road near the Male' Fish Market jetty, an area where large numbers of rays naturally gather.

Videos circulating on social media show the man, believed to be a foreigner, stabbing the stingray with a hook and pulling it over the seawall while a crowd of tourists watched. The stingray is seen struggling as it is dragged across the jetty, while several tourists record the incident on their phones.

The exact date and time of the incident remain unclear, but the videos have gone viral across Maldivian social media platforms.

Police said the footage has come to their attention, even though no formal complaint has yet been filed. 

Expressing concern, Male' City North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) said foreigners may feel emboldened to commit such acts when they believe they can avoid legal consequences due to weak enforcement. He added that Maldivians failing to respect environmental laws themselves encourages such behaviour.

They fishing rays as a tourist attraction? I thought it is illegal to do this? ???? https://t.co/3uhLbluwbY

— p•3•s•t (@p3st) September 26, 2026

He noted that foreign workers in other countries strictly follow local laws because those nations enforce regulations strongly and consistently. 

Under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, ray species, including cowtail stingrays, are protected, and harming or capturing them is prohibited.  

Islamic principles also forbid harming any living creature without necessity, making the act both legally and religiously unacceptable.

The incident has sparked public outrage, with many calling for stronger enforcement to protect marine life that is central to the Maldives’ identity and tourism industry.