Six Senses Laamu Honored for Leading Marine Conservation in the Maldives
Saturday 14th of December 2024
Six Senses Laamu has recently been celebrated for its exceptional marine conservation efforts, securing two prestigious recognitions. The resort has earned a spot on Condé Nast Traveller's 2024 “Bright Ideas in Travel” list and was awarded the "Best Culture, Travel & Lifestyle Environmental Initiative" at the inaugural Country & Town House Future Icons Awards in the UK. Both accolades highlight the resort’s pioneering initiatives in protecting the ocean and promoting sustainability.
The Future Icons Awards, presented by Country & Town House Magazine, honors those at the forefront of environmental stewardship, and Six Senses Laamu's Sea Hub of Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL) was praised as an “incredible conservation project.” The project has successfully brought together local stakeholders and global experts to safeguard marine ecosystems in the region.
Meanwhile, the Condé Nast Traveller recognition specifically celebrates SHELL and the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), which are making strides in addressing the environmental challenges faced by the travel industry.
SHELL, which opened in March 2023, represents an innovative collaboration between luxury hospitality and marine conservation. This 5,952-square-foot facility serves as a hub for marine research and education. It is home to the MUI team, which includes marine biologists from Six Senses Laamu and experts from three leading NGOs: The Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, and the Olive Ridley Project. Together, they are advancing vital research on manta rays, sea turtles, and coral reefs.
SHELL's groundbreaking research on manta ray behavior has led to the identification of 138 individual manta rays in the Laamu waters, and the development of the world’s first underwater contactless ultrasound scanner for studying manta ray reproduction. Their "Eyes on the Reef" initiative also monitors manta rays 24/7 at cleaning stations, offering a unique insight into their behavior.
In addition, Six Senses Laamu’s sea turtle conservation efforts are yielding remarkable results. As of November 2024, 1,383 turtle hatchlings have been recorded, and the resort is home to one of the largest turtle identification databases in the Maldives, with over 670 turtles cataloged. Their advocacy work also contributed to the designation of Gaadhoo, an essential turtle nesting beach, as a Marine Protected Area.
The resort’s coral reef monitoring program has seen impressive progress, with coral cover on the house reef increasing by up to 55%. The team is also making breakthroughs in coral spawning research, helping to better understand and protect these vital ecosystems.
SHELL's work extends beyond research, with successful campaigns like #ProtectMaldivesSeagrass, which has led to the protection of over 910,000m² of seagrass across 37 resorts. The facility itself includes an immersive educational gallery, allowing guests to learn about marine conservation in an engaging way.
These two prestigious awards highlight Six Senses Laamu’s ongoing commitment to blending luxury tourism with vital environmental research and conservation, setting a new standard for sustainable tourism in the Maldives.