Artificial Reefs
Project Leader: Abigail Hine
Background
This project aims to establish the extent that artificial reefs and marine education and awareness can be used as tools to sustain coral reefs impacted upon by tourism; by preventing destructive snorkeler/diver behaviour, reducing coral damage and regenerating coral reef systems. Work will focus on an on-going artificial reef project based in the Maldives. Coral fragments are transplanted onto structures, (known as Coral Trays) in the lagoon at Landaa Giraavaru, Four Seasons Resort, alongside the natural reef, adding to and regenerating this reef that is popular with snorkelers/divers from the resort. On-going monitoring to establish the growth rate and success of these artificial reefs and the creation of educational material and activities to build guest awareness will be undertaken.
The research will attempt to establish whether receiving marine education enhances snorkeler/diver enjoyment, through resort guest comment cards, on-line surveys and face-to-face interviews. Additionally various experiments utilising the Coral Trays will be undertaken to quantify and assess the damage done by snorkelers/divers. These experiments will look at snorkeler/diver contacts to the artificial reefs and how they can be prevented and whether specific coral species can be transplanted in different areas depending on their resilience to snorkeler/diver contacts. Collaborating the working knowledge gained from being a Four Seasons’ Resident Marine Biologist, including coordinating the Coral Tray programme and linked experiments regarding snorkeler/diver damage, plus assisting with SOSF’s Coral Tray Project in Jeddah, this project will aim to develop and produce effective marine educational material (particularly for children) and assess the potential for Coral Trays to act as tools to sustain coral reefs within and beyond the Maldives.
The research will attempt to establish whether receiving marine education enhances snorkeler/diver enjoyment, through resort guest comment cards, on-line surveys and face-to-face interviews. Additionally various experiments utilising the Coral Trays will be undertaken to quantify and assess the damage done by snorkelers/divers. These experiments will look at snorkeler/diver contacts to the artificial reefs and how they can be prevented and whether specific coral species can be transplanted in different areas depending on their resilience to snorkeler/diver contacts. Collaborating the working knowledge gained from being a Four Seasons’ Resident Marine Biologist, including coordinating the Coral Tray programme and linked experiments regarding snorkeler/diver damage, plus assisting with SOSF’s Coral Tray Project in Jeddah, this project will aim to develop and produce effective marine educational material (particularly for children) and assess the potential for Coral Trays to act as tools to sustain coral reefs within and beyond the Maldives.
Aims & objectives
- Expand the Coral Tray Project at Landaa Giraavaru, using coral fragments propagated from the mature trays and coral fragments accidentally broken by snorkelers/divers and continuing the on-going conservation work currently being undertaken. Assistance will be given to the SOSF Coral Tray Project at the Marine Centre in Jeddah. Working knowledge will be gained during this process, which will give a greater understanding of the likelihood and possible success of Coral Trays on other reef areas beyond the Maldives and Saudi Arabia.
- Produce marine educational material for the resort guests (especially those of younger ages) at Landaa Giraavaru plus the dive community and school in and around Jeddah; building awareness, enjoyment and the concept of conservation.
- Establish the extent of damage caused by snorkelers/divers to the artificial reefs and whether it is influenced by the marine education provided.
- Establish the preferred methods of incorporating marine education and awareness into snorkelling/diving facilities using the concepts put into practice in the Maldives and in conjunction with snorkeler/diver opinion surveys.