19-Year Legacy of Conservation: Banyan Tree Marine Lab, The Maldives' Guardian of Nature

The opening of the Banyan Tree Marine Lab in 2004 represented a key turning point because it was the first resort-based facility in the Maldives created specifically to protect the marine ecology and environment.

The innovative Marine Lab, which serves both Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru, formerly known as Angsana Ihuru, and operates under the guiding principles of conservation, restoration, education, and research, has been crucial in assisting important fieldwork conducted by visiting experts.

With time, the Marine Lab's mission has grown to include spearheading advocacy for sustainability activities carried out by both resorts, such as raising awareness of marine conservation in neighborhood communities and local schools.

Navy Talk

The aquatic Lab's main goal is to inform visitors about the local aquatic habitats. A 20–30 minute weekly program called Marine Talk educates visitors on subjects including coral reefs, the problems they face right now, and preventative steps to protect them.

Public Science

Two times a week, snorkeling excursions with the on-site marine biologists are organized to record different species and keep an eye on regional populations that live in the house reefs.

The crew methodically records three different types of marine species during this process: megafauna, groupers, and butterflyfish. These include a wide variety of fascinating animals, such as trevallys, peacock groupers, crown of thorns starfish, reef sharks, nurse sharks, eagle rays, turtles, and racoon butterflyfish.

Megafauna populations' presence and abundance are very important as markers of the overall health of the marine ecosystem. They provide information on the abundance of prey, the quality of the water, and the overall ecological integrity of the region.

Unfortunately, overfishing has resulted in a significant fall in grouper populations, which is largely attributable to their high value in seafood markets. However, by regulating the populations of herbivorous fishes and limiting overgrazing of corals, they play a crucial ecological role in fostering reef recovery.

'Bioindicators,' or butterflyfish, and coral reefs coexist in a symbiotic way. The team learns a lot about the effects of coral bleaching, pollution, and habitat loss on the health and vitality of the reefs by carefully monitoring their populations.

Reef Cleaning

To increase corals' chances of survival and safeguard the entire reef ecology, it is essential to keep the reef clean.

The removal of two predators, the pincushion starfish (PINS) and the crown of thorns starfish (COTS), both known for eating coral polyps, has resulted in a severe loss of coral throughout the reef.

Due to the fact that corals make up their main diet, these animals are known as "corallivores." The rate at which we can produce and replant corals is significantly outpaced by the crown of thorns starfish, which can eat up to 75 square feet of coral annually.

Reef Nursery

One of the main projects at the Marine Lab is coral restoration, which aims to give the reefs new life.

For giving coral fragments that separate from the main structures a second opportunity, the coral rope nurseries present a promising alternative. Carefully selected, these fragments—also known as coral recruits—are attached to rope nurseries that typically measure 10 meters in length and 2 meters in width.

Divers with experience are encouraged to participate in this worthwhile endeavor with the on-site marine biologists at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru.

Energy Reef

Three electric reefs have been installed and thoughtfully positioned across both islands to improve the preservation and regeneration of the region's biodiversity and coral reefs. This ground-breaking method combines ecology and technology to provide more effective conservation results.

A substantial metal framework connected to a low voltage power source creates a localized electronic field that encourages more calcium to deposit on the metal surface, creating an electric reef.

Before the Marine Lab was created, in 1996, the Banyan Tree Foundation built the Barnacle, a technology integration pioneer for the reefs of the Maldives.

Later, in 1998 and 2001, respectively, the Necklace and the Lotus were constructed, significantly extending the network of electrified reefs and enhancing our conservation efforts.

According to Nicholas Hardman, Regional Marine Lab Manager, the Banyan Tree Marine Lab has been a shining example of sustainability and conservation in the Maldives for the past 19 years. "We are immensely happy of the advancements we have made in the promotion of eco-friendly methods, the protection of home reefs, and the planting of coral. As we continue to motivate constructive change in our visitors and the larger society, we are unwavering in our commitment to increasing environmental awareness through educational initiatives.

Know the facts. Download the Marine Lab Information and Activity Guide to learn more about cultivating a "sustainability culture".

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