Sheraton Maldives Fullmoon Resort and Spa: Coastal Conservation


Maldives
PUBLISHED March 18, 2020

Marriott has announced a new programme for 2020 to save some of the most diverse ecosystems on our planet, coral reefs. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has teamed up with environmental consultancy, Reefscapers, to develop a tailored marine biology programme where coral frames are placed around the resorts house reef, which will offer guest-orientated activities to save the surrounding coral reefs.

As part of the initiative, coral frames are placed around the resorts house reef which, as a result of the 2016 El Nino, saw unusually warm waters globally causing widespread coral bleaching. The initial stages of the artificial reef project were successfully completed in February 2020. Fifty new coral frames were transplanted around the resort by the experts from Reefscapers, representing an impressive 3,000 coral fragments harvested from healthy donor colonies on the natural reef, and successfully transplanted to the coral frames located in the shallow lagoons around the island.

Sheraton Maldives will also appoint a marine biologist to be stationed at the resort to lead weekly interactive frame building activities, conduct marine life educational workshops and guided snorkelling tours. 

A statement by Reefscape read: "It is hoped the coral from these frames will eventually grow onto the natural reef substrate and will improve the coral cover to build the marine habitat, increasing the number of species of fish and sea life."

The structures are built locally in Baa Atoll Fulhadhoo, providing an alternative business to the 250 inhabitants whose previous source of employment was solely fishing.

In line with the resorts sustainability focus, it has also launched complimentary speedboat transfers to and from Velana International Airport a first for the Maldives which takes a quick 15 minutes.

*Photograph from Reefscapers website
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