Major coral planting program to restore Rasfari Reef

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a five year project to repair the Kaafu atoll Rasfari Reef which was significantly damaged when a cargo ship ran aground the reef in 2021.

EPA announced on Wednesday that it has opened the opportunity for interested parties to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the project. Submissions will be open until January 26.

The Panama-registered ship "Navios Amaryllis" was en route to South Africa from the Indian port of Tuticorin when it ran aground in the sate-protected Rasfari Reef on August 18, 2021. EPA's assessment showed that 8,867 squaremetres of the reef were severely damaged and a number of corals and other marine life were killed.

The agency said in an announcement that the ship's owner had agreed to provide the necessary funds for the reef's restoration.

“This is the first time in Maldives that a party responsible for causing damage to a reef has funded for it's restoration,” the announcement said.

Areas of assistance required for Reef restoration

- Build nurseries and identify locations for coral fragments

- Monitoring and maintenance of nurseries

- Plant corals cultivated in nurseries at Rasfari Reef

- Identify locations to plant coral fragments at Rasfari Reef

- Maintenance and monitoring of replanted coral reefs

- Assist with logistics such as transportation

- Provide technical advice on coral cultivation and management

The 623 foot long cargo ship had faced engine failure and drifted towards the Reef bed. A tug boat was brought from abroad and the ship was refloated 10 days after it was grounded.

The owner of the ship was asked to pay MVR 893 million in fines and compensation after the EPA survey. However, this amount was later reduced. The owner of the ship had settled MVR 100 million in fines and MVR 154 million, [a total of USD 10 million] in damage compensation to the EPA.

It marked the first time the state recovered such a large sum of money under the Environmental Act for reef damages. It is also the first time the state has received the money on the condition that the funds be spent on restoring the environment.