COLLABORATING FOR NATIONWIDE REEF MONITORING

The National Coral Reef Monitoring Framework, initiated by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy, is a nationwide program that enlists organizations to regularly monitor nearby coral reefs. Participants submit their data through the CoralDatabase portal, creating a comprehensive picture of reef health across the Maldives over time.

MUI surveying Laamu’s reefs. Photo by Jay Clue.

Understanding changes in reef health is crucial for identifying emerging threats and developing effective management solutions. At Six Senses Laamu, the program’s surveys focus on reef fish and invertebrate abundance and diversity, as well as benthic composition, including coral diseases and bleaching. This data helps the team track both positive and negative changes in the reef ecosystem.

The most recent survey, conducted during the bleaching period, has revealed early signs of the global ocean warming event. Preliminary data suggests that the 2024 mass bleaching event has been slightly less severe on Olhuveli House Reef compared to the 2016 event. If all corals currently showing signs of bleaching were to die, the projected average coral cover would be 17.2%, which is over 6.25% higher than post-2016 bleaching levels. Additionally, some of the bleached corals are likely to recover, further increasing the live coral cover. This is a positive sign, however, the team will continue to monitor for other potential threats, such as disease and algae growth, which often escalate after a bleaching event and can exert additional stress on the corals.