MATI applauds EPA's actions to combat coral bleaching

Maldives Association of Tourism Ministry (MATI) has commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their swift action to mitigate the escalating issue of coral bleaching in the Maldives.

In a press release, the association stated that they applaud EPA's decision to take important steps to reduce the effect of coral bleaching and added that they highly endorse it.

"In addition to this, we urge all members of this association and all stakeholders in the tourism industry to cooperate with this decision and follow these steps," the statement read.

MATI stated that while experts have revealed that the coral bleaching issue has reached a dangerous stage, following the actions directed by the EPA will significantly assist in mitigating the damage.

An announcement released by EPA last week ordered a halt to land reclamation projects and excavation of lagoon beds due to the spiraling problem of coral bleaching. In addition to land reclamation and lagoon excavation, activities such as adding sand to beaches, sand excavation using pumps, affixing cables and pipes over the lagoon beds, bund wall installations, and any other lagoon work that requires machinery have also been brought to a halt.

EPA has requested all such projects and works ongoing at present to be halted until June 10.

According to the Coral Reef Watch website, which analyzes the temperature of seas worldwide and regularly updates this information, the coral bleaching problem in the Maldives is at an alarmingly threatening stage; 'Alert level 1'.

Since the first mass incident of coral bleaching emerged in 1998, such incidents have been unfolding every now and then. The biggest coral bleaching event since had occurred in 2016. A report released in the same year, following investigation and inspections into the issue, found that 73 percent of the country's corals were bleached during that period.