Meet the Marine Savers at Four Seasons Maldives
Wednesday 22nd of April 2020
Meet the Marine Savers at Four Seasons Maldives
Maine Savers if Four Seasons’ team of 10 full-time marine biologists – well assisted by interns and apprentice in conjunction with local environmental agency, Reefscapers (formerly Seamarc), the Maldivian Ministries of Environment and Energy, Fisheries and Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency – have been running some of the Indian Ocean’s most pioneering conservation projects since 2010 from two Four Seasons-based Marine Discovery Centres.
Reefscapers
In 2001, Maldivian environmental consultancy company Seamarc started working with Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa to improve coral cover around the Resort and aid reefs damaged by coral bleaching. Little did either party know that their partnership would develop to become one of the most successful reef propagation projects of its kind in the world: Reefscapers. Today, Reefscapers runs pioneering projects at the two Four Seasons islands of Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives.
Turtle Care
Their Reefscapers team of marine biologists established a sea turtle conservation programme in 2011, following concern over dwindling sea turtle populations across the Maldives. This government-endorsed programme is concerned with three key areas of turtle conservation: the protection of turtle nests followed by assisted rearing for any sick or injured hatchlings, the rehabilitation of injured turtles and photo identification techniques and satellite tracking.
Fish Lab
Landaa Giraavaru’s Fish Lab breeds ornamental fish to promote marine conservation and education among guests and local school children, with the future aim of establishing fish breeding on neighbouring local islands as an alternative source of livelihood.
Manta Trust
Formed in 2011, the Manta Trust is a UK-registered charity that co-ordinates global mobulid (manta and devil ray) research and conservation efforts. The charity was borne out of the work of the Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP), which was run by Dr. Stevens at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru from 2006-2011 and has now evolved into one of the largest and longest-standing manta conservation groups in the world.
More info: http://marinesavers.com/