Empowering community-led coral reef restoration and prioritization in the Maldives

CORDAP Empowering Community-Led Coral Reef Restoration and Prioritization in the Maldives

Project Overview

Turqoise Lab is proud to be a key partner in this groundbreaking community-based larval coral restoration project that is revolutionizing coral reef conservation in the Maldives. This innovative initiative builds on the pioneering work of Professor Peter Harrison from Southern Cross University, who has developed a revolutionary system that can improve larval production efficiencies by up to 40%.

Project Mission

Our mission is to dramatically increase the scale and speed at which coral reefs can be restored across the Maldives through community-led initiatives, innovative larval restoration techniques, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement across four strategic atolls.

How It Works

Innovative Coral Restoration Process

1. Gamete Collection: Coral eggs and sperm are carefully captured using fine mesh nets during natural spawning events

2. Strategic Breeding: Gametes are strategically crossed to generate hundreds of millions of robust, genetically diverse larvae

3. Ocean Cultivation: Larvae are grown in specially designed ocean pontoons that optimize survival rates

4. Dual Deployment Strategy:

   • Direct release of larvae onto degraded reef areas

   • Settlement of larvae onto rubble and natural limestone tiles before transportation to restoration sites

5. Growth Monitoring: Continuous monitoring ensures larvae develop into healthy adult corals

Project Partners

This CORDAP-funded initiative brings together a consortium of leading research institutions and local organizations:

International Partners

• Professor Peter Harrison (Project Leader) - Southern Cross University

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

• University of Queensland

• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

• Queensland University of Technology

Maldivian Partners

• Maldives Coral Institute 

• Maldives Marine Research Institute

• Turqoise Lab 

Project Locations

The restoration activities are strategically implemented across four key atolls:

1. Baa Atoll (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)

2. Male' Atoll

3. Laamu Atoll

4. South Huvadhu Atoll

Environmental Impact

Restoration Scale

• Multi-hectare reef restoration plots established

• Significantly higher coral settlement rates compared to natural recruitment

• Enhanced genetic diversity in restored coral populations

• Improved reef resilience against climate change impacts

Long-term Benefits

• Restoration of critical marine habitats

• Enhanced fish populations and biodiversity

• Improved coastal protection for local communities

• Sustainable tourism and economic opportunities

Future Outlook

As this comprehensive 3-year project continues, Turquoise Lab remains committed to:

• Expanding restoration activities across all four target atolls

• Strengthening community partnerships and local capacity

• Advancing scientific research and innovation

• Sharing knowledge and best practices globally

• Building a sustainable model for reef conservation