MUI ATTENDS FIFTH MALDIVES MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

The Fifth Maldives Marine Science Symposium (MMSS) organized by the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI) and held at Maldives National University in Malé on July 24th and 25th, showcased an array of exciting and groundbreaking research in the field of marine science in the Maldives! Attended by over 100 researchers, ministry officials, NGO representatives, students and members of the public, the symposium featured both oral and poster presentations in the categories of ‘Corals and Reef Ecology’, ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture’, ‘Sharks and Rays’, ‘Other Marine Megafauna’, ‘Mangroves and Seagrasses’, and ‘Miscellaneous Marine Themes’.

This year, the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) team made a splash by collectively contributing 6 oral presentations and 5 poster presentations for the symposium, with topics ranging from historical fishing in the Maldives to novel methods in coral restoration and insights into manta ray cleaning stations. A total of 22 active MUI members and alumni participated at this year’s MMSS, highlighting the team’s influence and dedication to advancing marine science and conservation efforts in the Maldives.

Six Senses Laamu

The team from Six Senses Laamu presented on three different topics, two with oral presentations and one poster presentation. A poster presentation titled “Seagrass Shifts: Biodiversity and Guest Views at a Maldives Five Star Resort'' was given by Athif, one of the previous MUI Interns who studied the seagrass patterns around Laamu for his BSc project from Maldives National University (MNU). This poster presented the results from the team's snorkel surveys around Olhuveli Island as well as social surveys of the guests to understand their perception of seagrass. Jess Hodge, Research Coordinator from Six Senses Laamu, kicked off the symposium with a presentation on “Coral Spawning and Larval Restoration in Laamu Atoll”. This explored the research of the Six Senses team on the coral spawning patterns in Laamu and how that feeds into the larval restoration project in collaboration with Professor Peter Harrison. The presentation also highlighted the key element of collaboration in this project moving forwards, as these methods of larval restoration are expanded to other areas of the Maldives through Prof Peter Harrisons CORDAP Funding Grant.

On the second day, Jess presented “Citizen Science App for Scalable Megafauna Data Collection”. For the last year the MUI team has been using an app and analytics platform called eOceans to streamline their megafauna data collection. The presentation shared the methods used for data collection, some results generated by eOceans and highlighted the potential further uses that the application could have.

The Manta Trust

The Manta Trust presented a total of two in-person oral presentations as well as three poster presentations covering topics from oceanic manta rays in Fuvahmulah and Ocean Women in the Maldives to tourism contribution to conservation, and of course the Laamu cleaning station projects: Zakwan Zameer, assistant project manager in Laamu presented Tessa McCormacks poster on “Understanding the species richness of cleaning stations and ecological role of cleaning symbioses in Laamu Atoll, Maldives, using data from Remote Underwater Video (RUV) surveys”. A total of 153 species from 33 families and 14 orders were identified on Laamu’s cleaning stations, with evidence of habitat complexity driving species richness across cleaning stations. The project also found that the two client species making up the greatest proportion of cleaning interactions were the grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) which accounted for 70.01% and 9.14% of observed cleaning interactions, respectively. The findings highlight the need to target conservation efforts towards protecting the structural integrity of cleaning stations, as degradation may diminish the quality of cleaning interactions, while also providing methods to classify these stations and understand what makes them function well. At the closing ceremony, Zakwaan accepted the 2nd place prize for “Best Poster Presentation” on behalf of Tessa for his presentation on the study’s findings.

Jinaad Ali, former Assistant Project Manager in Laamu presented on behalf of Ben Pearce on “Cleaning to Conservation: Remote Underwater Photographs Reveal Environmental Drivers and Resighting Patterns of Mobula alfredi in Laamu Atoll, Maldives.” From 2021 to 2023, 2599 manta sightings were recorded through the remote camera systems. It was found that mantas are likely to stay longer at cleaning stations when other manta rays are around, and they are significantly affected by the moon state, monsoonal season and ocean primary productivity. Generally, manta ray’s presence peaked between 9am and 10am, which follows research from other locations. Findings also suggest that some individuals may reside around Laamu annually, whilst others likely leave the atoll for periods of the year. Both studies made it clear how important such small areas are for the local manta ray populations in Laamu Atoll and that they spend a significant amount of time getting cleaned and socializing with other individuals, they also highlight how supporting students with their final projects helps to showcase some of the detailed research the team is conducting on island. Huge congratulations to everyone who presented and contributed to the success of this event!

Blue Marine and Maldives Resilient Reefs

MMSS provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the Blue Marine and Maldives Resilient Reefs team’s extensive involvement in a variety of critical marine studies. The team was thrilled to be chosen to present its research at MMSS this year. Jake Edmiston, Projects Researcher at Blue Marine Foundation, presented the findings from a fish and seafood sourcing survey distributed to tourism operators in the Maldives. Tourism has developed rapidly in the last 50 years, which has led to increased demand for coral reef fish such as snappers, emperors and groupers, however there is little understanding of the supply chain. The study was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources to review local seafood sourcing by tourism operators. Tuna and reef fish are locally sourced but non-native seafood such as salmon, mussels and oyster are imported. Lobster and octopus are both imported and sourced locally. Most respondents indicated a desire to increase the sustainability of their local seafood sourcing practices and it was from the results of this survey that the team engaged in discussions with various resorts and expanded the Laamaseelu Masveriyaa sustainable fishing programme to three new resorts in three atolls at the end of 2023.

Sha Hashim, Maldives Programme Manager at Blue Marine and Chairperson of Maldives Resilient Reefs (MRR) gave a fascinating presentation of some of the findings from her Master’s by Research thesis titled "Old Man and the Sea," which explored historical reference points for marine resources in the Maldives. The study aims to create a baseline of Maldivian marine resources focusing on threatened habitats (coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangroves) and exploited species including megafauna, reef fish and sea birds. Sha used books, websites and databases to understand the historical marine environment and resource use and over 80 Local Ecological Knowledge interviews to examine how people’s perceptions of marine life have changed over their lifetimes. Coral bleaching was the most frequently cited driver of coral reef decline. The results help to inform accurate baselines from which management goals can be set.

The Olive Ridley Project

The Olive Ridley Project made a notable impression at this year’s MMSS, showcasing their exciting research and conservation efforts through two oral presentations and four poster presentations! This was highest representation of research from ORP at any MMSS. Julian Gervolino, ORP Laamu’s Sea Turtle Biologist, gave an engaging presentation on the ‘Socioeconomic Value of Sea Turtles to the Maldives Tourism Industry’. Their findings from 116 survey responses estimate sea turtle tourism to be worth between US$10.9 and 14.4 million annually, with the value of a single turtle reaching up to US$30,000 per year at popular viewing sites. This is the first comprehensive assessment of the tourism value of sea turtle viewing in the Maldives and has significant implications for the conservation of these species in the country. More importantly, it will serve as a powerful tool to shift perceptions from seeing these species as consumptive resources to recognizing them as a highly valuable non-consumptive one, and help bolster nationwide conservation efforts for them.

Ibrahim Inaan, the Sea Turtle Ranger for L. Gaadhoo, delivered an impactful presentation on the “First Year of the Gaadhoo Protection Programme”— a communityled initiative launched by ORP and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2023 to safeguard one of the country’s most significant nesting beaches. Key highlights included an almost complete reduction in illegal egg harvesting, dropping from 61% to just 2% of nests since the project’s initiation, a remarkable 94.7% hatching success rate from 16 excavated nests, and over 460 educational interactions with community members. This is the first project of its kind in the Maldives and acts to serve as a framework for conservation efforts at other key sea turtle nesting sites in the country.

8 ORP also presented four posters covering a range of topics, including the “First Health Assessment of Juvenile Hawksbills in the Maldives” and the “Social Behaviour and Preferences of Green Sea Turtles,” the latter being a master’s project conducted in Laamu last year by Amy Feakes. Amy’s findings revealed that pairs of turtles resting in the same location occur more frequently than by chance, suggesting that they may actively choose specific individuals to rest with. The study also revealed that adults, particularly males, have a higher tendency to rest in groups, while smaller juveniles often rest alone. The significance and presentation of these results won ORP first prize for “Best Poster Presentation” at the closing ceremony. Isha Afeef, the ORP Maldives Programme Manager, accepted the award on behalf of Amy Feakes for presenting the findings from the poster. This award not only highlights the significance of her findings but also underscores the caliber of scientific research conducted by MUI and its affiliate NGOs in Laamu Atoll. The symposium was attended by 12 ORP staff, including all members of the Laamu team, who all showed their support for the impactful research and conservation initiatives showcased at the event.