EPA Reopens Coral Planting Project for Rasfari Reef Restoration

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reopened the opportunity for the coral planting project aimed at rehabilitating the Rasfari reef in Male’ Atoll. 

This move comes after the EPA had previously canceled its plan to seek a contractor for this project earlier in January of this year.

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The EPA has once again issued an announcement, calling upon interested parties to collaborate on the ‘Rasfari Restoration Project,’ which is dedicated to the restoration of the coral reef at Rasfari.

The areas where assistance is needed include:

• Building nurseries and identifying locations for sourcing coral fragments.
• Monitoring and managing these nurseries.
• Planting corals that have been nurtured in these nurseries at Rasfari reef.
• Replanting the source fragments at Rasfari reef.
• Continuous monitoring of the replanted sites.
• Providing support in logistical aspects, such as transportation.

• Offering professional expertise related to coral reef restoration and the overall project management.

The project gained significance due to a maritime incident involving a 623-foot-long cargo ship. The vessel experienced engine failure, causing it to drift perilously close to the reef bed. After bringing in a tug boat from abroad, efforts were made to refloat the ship, which took approximately ten days.

Following an EPA survey, the ship’s owner was initially liable to pay MVR 893 million in fines and compensation. However, this sum was later reduced, and the owner eventually settled by paying MVR 100 million in fines and MVR 154 million, equivalent to USD 10 million, in damage compensation to the EPA.