Marine Conservation Group Urges Immediate Halt to All Dredging Amid Looming Coral Bleaching Event
Maldives Resilient Reefs has issued an urgent appeal to suspend all dredging and land reclamation works as ocean temperatures rise above bleaching thresholds.
Mariyam Shifa
The Maldives Resilient Reefs has issued an urgent appeal to impose an immediate halt on all dredging activities. Ocean temperatures in central and southern atolls continue to rise above the critical bleaching threshold.
The Maldives lost approximately 75% of its shallow coral cover during the 2016 bleaching event. Scientists warn another catastrophic bleaching could occur within weeks without intervention.
Several major reclamation projects involve significant dredging that contributes millions of Rufiyaa to government revenue, making this a contentious policy challenge.
Mariyam Shifa
Environment Editor
Marine biologist turned journalist.