Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives announces its Coral Reef Propagation Project and welcomes visitors to take part in it as part of ongoing efforts to protect the biodiversity of its rich marine ecosystems

The chance to snorkel or dive among the vivid colors and overwhelming variety of marine life living on a tropical island paradise is one of its key draws. Coral reefs are famous tourist destinations, yet despite their popularity, they are also extremely vulnerable to inadvertent human damage due to their location.

Intially this program will restore the corals that have been lost or destroyed over time or due to environmental and anthropogenic influences, with the primary goal of repairing the resorts’ reefs. Long-term, it will also broaden the range of animals that inhabit the house reef at the resort.

The project has a strong educational component as well thanks to guest participation. ‘’we want to increase public understanding of the value of coral reef ecosystems in the Maldives and elsewhere in the world. Around 25% of all marine species are found on coral reefs, and their loss might have a terrible effect on our seas’’. Abby Cooper, the resident Marine Biologist, stated, ‘’We hope that with this research we will improve the number and diversity of species we already have here in our home reef’’.

Coral fragments are first affixed to spiderweb-shaped frames and then placed on the edge of the resort’s house reef to form a coral nursery as the regeneration of finolhu’s reef begins. To avoid algae buildup and get rid of predators that can harm the coral, the nursery is frequently inspected and maintained.

Opportunity coral is the name given to the coral fragments used in the research. This includes coral that has been moved during building projects, small pieces of healthy coral that have been removed from big, flourishing colonies, and naturally broken coral fragments discovered during snorkeling and diving expeditions. It ensured the genetic diversity required for healthy development and reproduction by gathering coral from various sources

Visitors can snorkel out to the nursery to observe how the coral is developing on the frames. If they decide to take part in the initiative, they will get a certificate and updates on the coral they planted every six months in the form of photos. The frames cost US$150 (small), US$300 (medium), and US$450, respectively (Heart shaped). Additionally, a website specifically for this project will soon be developed.