STB raises concern on stalled Marine Research Centre

Local environmental NGO Save the Beach, on Sunday, expressed concern regarding delays in the process of establishing a Marine Research and Learning Center in Vilimale'.

Under efforts to establish the center, which was initiated in 2016, STB secured funds for the project and signed agreements with the University of Genoa to develop education programs, as well as both Coral Doctors and the German Oceanographic Museum to technically assist coral farming and restoration programs.

Additionally, STB received backing from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture.

According to the NGO, Male' City Council greenlighted and issued building permits for the project on June 18, 2020. Renovation works were subsequently commenced after an agreement was reached with a contractor.

However, the council issued a directive instructing the halt of all construction work on September 13.

Highlighting that no legitimate reason was cited for the order, STB's founder Hassan Ahmed (Beybe) revealed that the Male' City Council had failed to reply to any of STB's subsequent letters requesting clarification.

He went on to raise concerns that the lack of progress on the project, which has been stalled for more than three months, might damage the professional relationships STB has built with its research partners and sponsors.

As per STB, the Marine Learning and Research Center is intended to function as a place at which both local and foreign students, scientists, researchers and community members can work together as members of an intellectually diverse and active learning community to study the reefs of Maldives as well as contribute actively to conservation and mitigation efforts.

According to Male' Deputy Mayor Shamau Shareef, the issue which arose regarding the matter involved an administrative complication.

He asserted that councillors had no objections to the establishment of a Marine Learning and Research Center.

STB has conducted contractual work for the city council for seven years, including daily beach clean-ups, placing dustbins, reef monitoring, restoration projects and educational programs.

Initially launched in 2008 as a youth movement to conserve beaches in Villimale’, Save the Beach was officially registered as an NGO in 2012.

Editor's Note: The Edition reached out for an official statement from the Male' City Council. Since there was no response at the time of publishing, any further statements by the council will be updated accordingly.