Gov’t Avoids Commitment to Suspending Land Reclamation Amid Coral Bleaching Crisis

Despite urgent recommendations from the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), the government have avoided committing to suspend land reclamation and dredging projects amidst the ongoing coral bleaching crisis.

MMRI which operates as a research institute under the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, issued an advisory last week to suspend land reclamation, dredging and beach nourishing projects to mitigate additional stress on coral reefs during heightened ocean temperatures in these months.

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The President’s Office Spokesperson Heena Waleedh was asked at a press conference on Monday if the government plans to heed the call by MMRI.

Heena declined to give a definite answer on how the government will respond, saying instead that the government will continue “urgent work” to provide essential services to citizens while being mindful of environmental impacts.

“It is a priority for the government to implement development projects with both environmental and economic considerations in mind. As you know, Maldives is one of the countries that advocate on issues of climate at international platforms and as a small country we are very much affected by climate change”

“At the same time, we have to reclaim land to pave way for housing projects. As you know we have very little land, and population congestion is a big problem. So, ensuring housing is also an urgent work that we have to carry out and we need to reclaim land to do this”

Emphasising the importance of prioritising essential services such as housing, water and sewage projects, and job creation, Heena said that the government would carefully consider the potential environmental impacts of such projects. She reiterated the government’s willingness to engage with relevant stakeholders to mitigate adverse effects.

In its statement, MMRI highlighted the need to take immediate measures to mitigate additional stress on coral reefs during this period, considering the importance of protecting coral reefs to the biggest industries, tourism and fisheries.

America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) have reported a global bleaching event brought on by the El Nino phenomenon.

The latest regional bleaching forecast by NOAA shows most of the Maldives have reached alert level 1 while some areas of the southern and northern atolls are forecasted to reach alert level 2 within the next 4 weeks.

Meanwhile, divers across the country have been posting photos of bleached coral reefs on social media.