Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Zaha Waheed has revealed that the Maldivian reefs are in better condition compared to others across the globe.

She made the statement while briefing the press about their works with Blue Prosperity.

The government in partnership with the Blue Prosperity Coalition, has just concluded their 26-day scientific expedition to survey coral reef habitats, fish populations, and water quality across the Northern and Southern Atolls, from Haa Alif to Laamu Atoll. The findings of this survey has since been published.

As part of the expedition, 20 Atolls were surveyed 978 scientific dives conducted; 48 3-d images of coral reefs created; 690 hours of BRUV video collected; 330 species of fish observed, including 80 species on the IUCN Redlist Endangered and Threatened Species List; 274,004 individual fish counted; and 524 eDNA samples collected, to detect fish and microbes in the water.

At one point during the expedition, President Ibrahim Solih, the Speaker of Parliament and former President, Mohamed Nasheed, and the Minister of Fisheries Marine Resources and Agriculture, Zaha Waheed, joined the scientific team along Neykurendhoo Island in Haa Dhaalu Atoll. They joined scientists underwater at the reefs of Keylakunu, to witness how the 3-D imagery is captured of coral reefs, and to enjoy the marine habitat of Keylakunu, an island and reef that was protected by President Solih in 2018 under the 1 Island, 1 Reef, 1 Mangrove Initiative.

A second expedition surveying the nearshore habitats of Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulahand Addu Atolls will take place in early March. Several further expeditions will take place in the Maldives over the next few years, that will inform the Maldivian Government and direct its development plans toward the sustainable utilization of the country’s local resources.