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Charissa Selvey
February 16, 2014
Sustainability
Effects of Coral Bleaching on the Maldives Islands
Few places in the world are as richly diverse and beautiful as the Maldives islands, located of the
coast of Sir Lanka in the Indian Ocean. These Islands are homes to thousands of native islanders but are
most noted for their variety of colorful coral reefs. These coral reefs are an important part of the islands
tourist industry, providing a very well know attraction and a habitat for a variety of marine and fish life.
These islands however, are in great ecological danger, due to the changing climate and its effect on the
oceans. Rise in ocean temperatures and the acidification due to changing climate conditions interferes
with the delicate ecosystems that inhabit the Maldives. The most prominent damage from ocean
temperatures is coral bleaching, and killing of and preventing growth of coral reef colonies. Actions need
to be taken, by both the native people and Maldives government, but through global response from
other countries that are responsible for the worlds current climate changes. Through preserving and
repairing the reefs, and environmental action towards further solutions, the Maldives reef system may
continue to adapt and survive.
The islands of the Maldives is the eighth largest coral reef system in the world, and covers an
area of approximately 4513 km
2
. It holds over 1900 species of fish, 187 species of coral and 350 species
of crustaceans (Jaleel, 2013) The coral reefs are the dominant ecosystem found in these tiny islands and
the most prominent attraction on the islands. Worldwide, coral reefs remain the most threatened of
ecosystem, being extremely delicate to ocean changes and hosting a wide range of marine life. The
islands contains more than 2000 distinct coral reefs all working to protect thousands of species of fish,
and protect the coasts from the open sea and storms (T.R. McClanahan, 2000). While effects such as
coral bleaching are consequences of natural events, man-made causes such as coral mining, siltation,
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and pollution have contributed to loss of the Maldives' reefs. Coral reefs can be damage by a number of
natural cause, such as erosion, storms, and bleaching (Jaleel, 2013). Coral bleaching is the most
devastating to coral reefs, as it wipes out large areas of reefs without the hope of regrowth.
Coral bleaching is caused by the loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae and zooxanthellar pigmentation
from corals, destroying the corals relationship with unicellular flagella protozoa that are photosynthetic
and live within their tissues, thus supporting coral life. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification
cause the stress to the corals, especially in Acropora species (Coles & Riegl, 2013). The acidity of the
ocean's surface has increased due to increased CO2 and sea level had risen on average by 18 cm.
Current CO2 emissions at their rate will warm sea surface temperatures by at least 23 C, and raise sea-
level by as much as 1.7 m (Jaleel, 2013). Ocean pH may also raise from 8.1 to less than 7.9, and result in
increased storm frequency. Coral reefs have experienced stress by these numerous factors, and can be
traced through low densities of coral, dominance of stress resistant types and atypical bleaching (Coles
& Riegl, 2013). With the steady increase in frequency of El Nino, and changes in the developing thermal
characteristics, a continued change in depletion of coral reefs is underway (Miller et al., 2007).
The impacts of the coral reefs on the Maldives marine environment is dire and could also cause
the economic decline of tourism, due to the reefs widespread significance. Tourism accounts for 28% of
the GDP and 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange (Jaleel, 2013). The development of tourism helped
in developing the overall growth of the countrys economy and created direct employment and income
opportunities. The change is income source occurred in the 1970s after the fishing industry started to
taper off, and the drive to reestablish their economy was needed (Bhat, Bhatta, & Shumais, 2013). Part
of this tourist attraction is the clean and clear waters surrounding the islands along filled with exotic
marine fauna. With depletion of the reefs, not only is the island in danger of storm surges and ecological
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damage but a major attraction will be taken away from the allure of these islands, bringing down foreign
interest and likely tourists.
In order to preserve the ecological aspects of the coral reefs, The Maldivian government,
international development organizations, and local NGOs are now making it priority to safeguard the
marine ecosystems and focus on sustainable resource use and conservation actions (Jaleel, 2013).
Protecting the reefs through ecological preservation is the first part to preventing further damage from
occurring to the coral reefs. An important part of this plan is to create improved waste management
practices of the country and dispose of waste and pollutants in an environmentally safe way. In most
islands waste is dumped at usually unmanaged sites along the shoreline. These leads to waste being
caught in the coral reef and water, where it can destroy the delicate coral and harm nearby marine life
(Brown, Katrina; eg 1997). Better waste and pollution management is necessary to protect the islands
ocean environment from harmful toxins and waste.
Another preservation technique is through the use of Marine Protected Areas, established in
1995 under the Environment Act. This was a first step to protecting specified areas from negative
consequences of over-fishing, coral mining, and garbage dumping. Initially Sites were designate over the
insight of driver and areas were chosen to be biologically protected (Khaleel, Mohameed,; Saeed, Simad
1997). To prevent loss of species and for the protection of the reef environment, some fish and marine
life forms have been categorized as protected and thus protected by law. Marine life and reef products
have also been banned from being exported. The Environment Protection and Preservation Act of 1993
is the most encompassing of all, especially with respect to the reef environment (T R McClanahan &
Muthiga, 2014). The passing of the Environment Act was a major step towards protection and
preservation of the environment encompassing the coral reefs. Funding is needed for the Maldives
government and its management of environmental preservation. A way to further enhance the
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protection of preserved areas and the treatment and conversation methods, is for other global
communities to fund the efforts made by the Maldivian government.
Tourist that visit the Maldives are also needed to be held responsible for the action they take
while inhabiting the island resorts. Tourist are now banned from collecting or catching fish or using
scuba gear to collect marine life under the Fisheries Law of Maldives. The Fisheries Regulation gives
details of protected marine species in the Maldives from exploitation or export (Collins, 2013). This is
part of the steps taken by the government to conserve and manage coral reefs and the marine
environment in a sustainable manner. Permission for activities such as dredging and the construction of
artificial maritime structures at resorts will need to be cleared by the Ministry of Tourism and regarded
by regulations. The Government of Maldives has combined a tourism master plan for environmentally
sustainable tourism (Jaleel, 2013). This plan spells out the policies, strategies, targets and details of
tourism expansion in the country for later periods. The plan proposes the following actions for
environmental management in tourism development to integrating tourism with coastal resources
management, marine research, developing marine protected areas, and environmental public
awareness programs (Goreau, McClanahan, Hayes, & Strong, 2000).
Global attempts need to also be made to not only help keep the reservation of current coral
reefs but also to attempt to stop the accelerating rise in climate change and water temperatures. Policy
measures aimed towards conservation and sustainability of the natural environment are needed. These
has direct bearing on coral reefs, including creating public awareness and establishment of environment
protection funds. The creation of a trust fund under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
signed between the Government of Maldives, the EU and the World Bank Group in 2010 is another
measure towards combating the effects of climate change and building resilience (Jaleel, 2013). The EU
contributed USD 8.8 m to this multi donor Maldives Climate Change Trust Fund which aims at
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attempting to deal with climate change issues, and strengthen public knowledge, building adaptive
capacity, promoting energy efficiency and increase use of renewable sources of energy (Jaleel, 2013).
Maldives government need to promote the health of coral reefs, education towards
conservation, and regulations regarding pollutant and waste management in order to support the
preservation of their coral reefs. The reefs are dying off through bleaching, and other man made means
and if action isnt taken soon, large areas of reefs will be wiped out. This will impact the governments
place in ecotourism and can hinder their economic standing with tourists visiting to check out the reefs.
The reefs are also an important part of the ecological habitat of the Maldives, being centerpieces for a
diverse array of marine creatures. The loss of these ecosystems would be devastating for the scientific
community and for the current balance of marine life.
References
Brown, Katrina; Turner, R. Kerry; Hameed, Hala; Bateman, Ian (1997)
Environmental Conservation vol. 24 (04) p. 316-325
Bhat, Mahadev G.; Bhatta, Ramachandra; Shumais, Mohamed (2013)
Environmental Economics and Policy Studiesvol. 16 (1) p. 45-67
Coles, Steve L.; Riegl, Bernhard M. (2013)Marine Pollution Bulletin vol. 72 (2) p. 323-332
Domroes, Manfred (2001) Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography vol. 22 (2) p. 122-137
Goreau, Tom; McClanahan, Tim; Hayes, Ray; Strong, Al (2000) Conservation Biology vol. 14 (1)
p. 5-15
Jaleel, Azmath (2013)Ocean & Coastal Management vol. 82 p. 104-118
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Khaleel, Mohameed,;Saeed, Simad. (1997) Ministry of Planning Human Resources and
Environment, Ghazee Building Mal, Republic of Maldives
Loch, Karen; Loch, Wolfgang; Schuhmacher*, Helmut; See, Wolf R. (2002) Marine Ecology vol.
23 (3) p. 219-23
M.Brander, Luke; katrinredanz, J.Tol, Richards.; Beukering, Pieter J. H.Van (2012) World
Scientific Publishing Company
McClanahan, T.R. (2000) Marine Pollution Bulletin vol. 40 (7) p. 587-597
McClanahan, T. R. (2011) Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems vol. 21 (2) p.
186-198
Noue, Hisayuki Y.; Feely, Richard A.; Ishii, Masao; Kawano, Takeshi; Murata, Akihiko et al.
(2007)
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Elsevier Oceanography Series vol. 73 p. 1-472


Maldives Map (Jaleel, 2013)


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