Cora Cora Maldives has embarked on a five-year coral restoration project, bringing together guests, staff, and conservation partners to rejuvenate local reefs. Spearheaded by General Manager Justin Stuart and Managing Director Martin van der Reijden, the initiative is a collaborative effort supported by Mars Global, Save the Beach Maldives and other partners. This ambitious long-term project aims to contribute to the Maldives becoming the second-largest coral restoration site for Mars Global, following Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The project utilises the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS), where trained divers install reef stars embedded with coral fragments to encourage growth and biodiversity. The resort’s diving centre team and sustainability manager have received specialized training from Mars Global, ensuring the implementation of effective reef rehabilitation techniques.
Beyond reef stars, the restoration effort incorporates additional advanced techniques to enhance reef resilience.
- Rope Nurseries: Used to nurture and cultivate coral fragments until they are mature enough for transplantation.
- Direct Out planting with Coral Clips: Ocean Quest’s methodology that allows corals to quickly attach to reefs.
- Microfragmentation via “Plant a Million Corals” Initiative: This technique accelerates coral growth by breaking healthy colonies into small fragments, which rapidly fuse together to form larger structures.
Marine biologist Giulia Morello, along with Diving Center Manager Marcus Goh, have undergone specialized training in Malaysia to enhance their expertise in coral restoration. As certified trainers their knowledge allows the Cora Cora Maldives team to utilise a diverse array of restoration techniques to ensure the reefs not only survive but thrive.
A Community-Driven Conservation Effort
The restoration project emphasizes the need for collective participation. With the aspiration of becoming a Centre of Excellence, Cora Cora Maldives is working with Save the Beach Maldives to share these skills to train local communities on reef building and encourage neighbouring resorts to adopt these techniques in their conservation efforts.
The resort’s commitment to marine conservation extends beyond professionals, engaging resort staff, guests, and local partners. Guest are invited to actively participate through hands on activities such as tying coral fragments, direct planting techniques, or by adopting reef stars, and engaging in educational experiences such as the “Walk with Our Marine Biologist” program. All help fosters a sense of shared responsibility for marine conservation.
A Long-Term Commitment to Marine Preservation
The five-year project is designed to promote a diverse coral ecosystem and enhance reef resilience to withstand the challenges of climate change and other environmental impacts.
By leveraging cutting-edge restoration techniques and fostering community-driven efforts, beyond revitalizing coral ecosystems Cora Cora Maldives also aims to set a global benchmark demonstrating the viability of large-scale reef restoration.
This interactive approach not only provides guests with a deeper understanding of ocean preservation but will showcase that the efforts of a community of like-minded, dedicated ocean advocates can yield tangible, lasting impacts on the marine ecosystem for future generations to enjoy.
All Photos: Cora Cora Maldives.
