2023 Ocean Conservation Achievements

As an integral part of the sought-after Fari Islands lifestyle, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, has been promoting environmental education since it opened in 2021. This destination has quickly become a renowned feature of the Indian Ocean and serves as a center for innovative environmental conservation efforts. As it enters 2024, the resort is proud to continue its commitment to preserving the natural world.

‘Eye in the Sky’ Drone Technology

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is leading an advanced ocean plastics monitoring program with the help of resort naturalists and a dedicated research community. This initiative utilizes drone technology developed in partnership with British PhD researcher Melissa Schiele to track and remove ocean plastics, including discarded fishing nets, in the fragile atoll ecosystem. The use of drones has enabled the resort teams to efficiently locate and eliminate hard-to-find debris, making an immediate positive impact on the environment.

In 2023, the resort’s environmentalist team and dive network removed 19 ghost net with an expected weight of 1100kg. These ghost nets voyage into the East Indian Ocean via strong ocean winds and current skilled in the region from mid-December. In 2023, the resort effectively rescue five olive ridley sea turtles found knotted in discarded nets. Two turtles were free immediately, with three rehabilitated by the Olive Ridley Project’s veterinary group at the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll, before a thriving reintroduction to the ocean. A reformed turtle named ‘Muraka’, free on the 16th of August 2023 was built-in with a GPS tracking device to allow visitors and followers to trace her journey.

While opening, the resort has achieved 751 drone flights aiding vital research into synthetic aggregation, location of ghost nets and constant monitoring of nature. In a first-of-its-kind picture collection and data processing plan, impressive data from the drone scheme was drawn for mutual use to inform, educate, and drive positive long-term change. Over 21 ocean types were observed in 2023, from the complex Eagle Ray, Black Tip Reef Shark to Melon-Headed Whale.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program

Residence to the Maldives’ first Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands continue to team up with the world-renowned oceanographic traveler and ecologist to provide guest experience with conservation of the planet at its core. In 2023, the program planted 40 coral frame as part of its coral restoration initiative, using coral frags from the Pocillapora (Cauliflower corals) and the Acropora (Table coral). Twenty-five of these plentiful nursery frame and winning new habitats for ocean life can be seen by visitors in the shallow waters of the resort’s greeting pier on entrance.

The luxury resort in Maldives will greeting Jean-Michel Cousteau in 2024 from the 8th to 18th April. An encouraged instructive residency will comprise exclusive visitor experiences and Q&A with the renowned explorer.

Community Footprints

The resort's Community Footprints program focuses on environmental awareness for future generations, fostering relationships with local schools to facilitate visits by its naturalist teams for research and education. In 2023, the resort organized five educational trips to local islands, including visits to schools in Dhiffushi and Gaafaru. These visits delved into ocean conservation, covering topics such as the environmental impact of ocean plastics, insights from the resort community's drone research, and observations of wildlife in the surrounding atoll. The program also featured presentations of groundbreaking research from the resort's 'Visiting Heroes' initiative, showcasing the work of renowned shark scientist Gibbs Kuguru and his conservation efforts in tagging Blacktip Reef Sharks.

The resort participated in ten global environmental events closer to home. Educational and inspiring activities were organized to raise awareness about important calendar dates such as World Shark Day, World Dolphin Day, Ocean Clean Up Day, and Earth Day. As part of its Community Footprints programming, the resort held 11 beach clean-ups to encourage guests to help collect ocean debris on the resort shores and the nearby islands of Dhiffushi and Gaafaru.

Creating a Sustainable Environment for the Future

The resort is furthering its dedication to sustainable practices in its daily operations by expanding its use of renewable energy through its solar power infrastructure, purifying still and sparkling drinking water at its dedicated plant, treating greywater for landscaping, and implementing a strong composting program for daily food waste.

Guests can anticipate the use of eco-friendly practices at this luxury living destination, including reusable glass water bottles, bamboo-based personal items, refillable amenity jars, and bamboo and stainless-steel straws. On-site, environmentally conscious Bamford amenities are replenished, aligning with the resort's commitment to sustainable living. Additionally, the resort's desalination plant helps decrease the importation of plastic into the country.