Positive Growth Noted In The Coral Reef Assessment Report Released By Noo Raajje’

The Assessment carried out in Jan and Feb 2020 was done on two expeditions of the northern and central atolls by scientists from Waitt Institute, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of Western Australia, Maldives Marine Research Institute, and their partners from Small Island Research Group.

The survey efforts were further supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, Oceano Azul Foundation, IUCN Maldives, Maldives Coral Institute, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire del’Environnement, Vava’u Environmental Protection Association, University of California Santa Barbara, NEKTON, and University of Hawai’i. The scientists surveyed 127 reef sites across 15 atolls.

The findings imply that Maldivian reefs have the ability to rebound from warming episodes on a world basis, while local stressors may have an influence on reef health on a local scale. The scientists also expressed that prior to the bleaching in 2016, Maldivian coral average was around 40%, suggesting that there is a long way to go towards full recovery.

For more information on the assessment: www.nooraajje.org/coral-reef-assessment