A yacht that ran aground on a reef in Alif Dhaal Atoll has been fined MVR 4.8 million.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that a yacht named "M.Y. Big Fish" (IMO: 399463) belonging to Temple Marine LTD., which entered the Maldives under the local agency of Seal Maldives Yacht Support Pvt Ltd, ran aground on the RF1329 reef of Alif Dhaal Atoll on 28 April 2025. The yacht was removed from the reef on 29 April 2025. To assess the damage to the reef, a joint survey was conducted on 4 June 2025, in the area where the yacht ran aground, along with surveyors appointed by the vessel's owner.

According to EPA, the inspection of the area where the vessel ran aground revealed that a 187 square meter area of the reef had suffered significant damage and destruction.

EPA went on to note that the fine for the environmental damage, as determined under Regulation Number: 2011/R-9 (Regulation on Determining Fines for Environmental Damage and Seeking Compensation) established under Law Number: 4/93 (Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives), amounts to MVR 4,889,450. Consequently, Temple Marine LTD., the owner of the vessel, was fined MVR 4,889,450.00 on 4 August 2025. The company has been instructed to pay the fine to the agency within 30 days.