President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has visited and met with the
team of scientists from the Blue Prosperity Coalition involved in the Maldives
Expedition yesterday afternoon. President Solih visited the vessel as part of
his ongoing visit to Neykurendhoo Island of Haa Dhaalu Atoll.
The expedition is a part of the ground-breaking scientific
research initiated in partnership with the Government of Maldives and Blue
Prosperity Coalition—a coalition of organisations working to support marine
spatial planning, marine protection and blue economies.
During the meeting with the scientists and researchers,
President Solih inquired about the different technical aspects of their work,
and actively joined a coral reef monitoring session with the researchers.
The expedition comprises of scientists and researchers from
the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Ministry of Fisheries,
Agriculture and Marine Resources, and Blue Prosperity Coalition partners; the
Waitt Institute, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography and Nekton.
The Maldives partnered with Blue Prosperity Coalition on the
side-lines of President Solihs visit to the United States last year to address
the United Nations General Assembly. The agreement will see the development and
implementation of a five-year programme to protect and preserve the Maldives
maritime environment and resources, and ensure future growth is in harmony with
the oceans well-being.
The objectives of the partnership also include the advancing
of ocean science and stewardship through research, education, capacity building
and outreach, and collaborating with local scientists and civil society.
Scientific and research data collected through the
expedition will be utilised to develop and implement a Maldives Exclusive
Economic Zone-wide Marine Spatial Plan (MSP)—an approach that uses spatial
information about natural resources and human uses to establish a comprehensive
management system.
It will further support the Blue Economy initiative,
promoting the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving
livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health. The data would also assist in sustainable
fisheries management, ensuring healthy fish populations habitats while ensuring
communities dependent on fisheries can maintain their livelihoods. It would
also see the designation and implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
which prohibit extractive uses, conserve reef resources, and restore
overexploited stocks and degraded areas.
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