In celebration of World Oceans Day on June 8, here are some marine conservation experiences to consider:
Plant some coral cubes with Baros Maldives
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| Source: Baros Maldives. Regenerate reefs with coral cubes. |
Conservation has always been central to the way of life at Baros Maldives in the central-southern part of North Male Atoll, 25 minutes by speedboat from Maldives International Airport. Since opening in the early 70s, the resort has been a pioneer of Indian Ocean coral reef conservation and education and today continues to develop efforts to improve the condition and diversity of the surrounding reefs by announcing new initiatives.
This year, Baros is encouraging coral regeneration through the introduction of ‘coral cubes’- small, cube-shaped moulds with a concrete base with small live coral pieces that have broken off from the reef attached to them. The cubes are plastic-free and reusable, with the coral attached in the cement directly or glued to the base with adhesive that is not harmful to the environment.
Placed directly in the reef, the cubes aim to repopulate areas of the house reef that have been damaged by crashing waves. Despite their size, they are sturdy enough to resist being washed away by the current. Resident marine biologists will monitor the planted cubes to aid in developing their conservation strategy.
Guests at Baros are invited to take part in this initiative and can plant their own coral cubes and learn about the surrounding ecosystem. For those wanting to personalise their ecofootprint, the coral cubes can be customised with their initials for a small fee and upon request and preorder.
Details:
Rates at Baros Maldives start from US$675 per night in a Deluxe Villa on a B&B basis, excluding taxes.
Safeguard marine fauna with Six Senses Laamu
Six Senses Laamu is passionate about preserving the biologically-diverse reef communities that surround it. Located 5˚ north of the Equator, Six Senses Laamu is home to the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) which consists of Six Senses Laamu marine biologists as well as three partner NGOs - the Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation and the Olive Ridley Project.
Together, these organisations help to lead the tourism industry in meaningful marine conservation work based around research, education and community outreach. The resort is also in partnership with the Manta Trust, whose on-site team monitors Laamu Atoll's manta ray population and helps raise awareness of the importance of the manta ray conservation. The team has identified over 135 reef manta rays that frequentlocal cleaning stations year-round, compared to most sites in the Maldives where manta ray sightings are seasonal.
Over 500 hawksbill and green turtles have also been identified in the Laamu Atoll, which is the second largest database of marine turtles in the Maldives thanks to the partnership with the Olive Ridley Project. The 116,695 m2 of seagrass meadows at the resort are fully protected, offering sanctuary to fishes, turtles, sharks and rays in the habitat.
Details:
Rates at Six Senses Laamu start from US$934 based on twin-sharing at a Lagoon Water Villa on a B&B basis.
An eco-reserve in the remote Anambas Islands
Source: Bawah Reserve. This resort is situated in the remote Anambas Islands.
Bawah Reserve is an off-the-beaten track group of six tropical islands in the Riau Archipelago, Indonesia, located between Malaysia and Borneo. The sustainability-minded retreat is home to marine conservation lagoons and white sand beaches, and offers guests a chance to contribute towards protecting the islands' future.
Pioneering ecofriendly practices at the resort include a plastic-free environment as well as marine and forest conservation initiatives. Bawah is certified by the WWF Signing Blue programme as a five-star destination for responsible marine tourism – it is the first resort in Indonesia to receive this distinction.
The surrounding seas of Bawah are reputedly 10 times more diverse than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and, in order to protect the environment, the reserve launched the Anambas Foundation, an independent charity aiming to protect and improve the overall ecosystem. The foundation works alongside local communities to educate on ways to combat the negative impacts of fishing and waste management. In 2020, the foundation saw significant developments through the launch of new initiatives for mangrove conservation and integrated waste management (IWM) on the surrounding Anambas Islands.
Guests can also spend time with Bawah’s expert marine biologists who educate during snorkelling trips, kayaking adventures or even over drinks at the Boat House bar.
Details:
Rates at Bawah Reserve start from US$1,980 per night for two people on a full-board basis including daily spa treatments, laundry, in-room minibar, plus land and water-based activities.
*B&B arrangements offer overnight accommdation as well as breakfast the next morning.
