How Luxury Resorts in the Maldives Are Saving Coral Reefs

Tuesday 9th of June 2020

How Luxury Resorts in the Maldives Are Saving Coral Reefs

As a part of the celebration of World Oceans Day, let’s look at some of the great works done by luxury resorts in the Maldives to protect the beautiful coral reefs in the island nation.

Gili Lankanfushi

With the launch of Coral Lines project in 2014, Gili became the first resort in Maldives to work on low-tech and high-efficiency coral reef recovery techniques that involve rope. Every rope is initially planted with 50 small, living coral fragments. They nurse the corals in the lagoon for one year and later transplant the ropes to One Palm Island reef if conditions are suitable. “Over time we expect the corals get stronger, grow bigger and improve the health of the One Palm Island Reef.”

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa teamed up with Reefscapers to introduce a program where coral frames are placed around the resort’s house reef, as a result of El Nino which took place in 2016 and saw unusually warm waters cause widespread coral bleaching. Reefscapers transplanted a total of 50 new coral frames around the resort, all sponsored by Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. “By building coral reefs, we can create awareness through guest enhancement and explain why corals are in danger and provide marine education,” says Sebastien Stradal, Marine Environment Consultant Reefscapers.

Grand Park Kodhipparu

Since its opening in 2017, Grand Park Kodhipparu has established several such coral gardening projects, where coral pieces from the House Reef are attached to purposely built underwater structure. A different style of nursery, consisting of frames holding coral fragments attached to cement pieces, has been established and allows the resort’s guests to actively participate in coral gardening.

Meeru Island Resort

As part of the Coral Garden Project, NGO Save the Beach came up with a method of coral planting, where specific corals that would be compatible in the Meeru waters, were grown on nursery beds, and relocated to the Coral Garden once they matured. Save the Beach and Meeru worked together to find coral fragments and plant, maintain and tend to them on a daily basis. “We look forward to share the joy of our reef nursery and the ocean with you soon,” announced Meeru Island.