Faqs Coral Conservation Project - Planhotel

Everyone and anyone can now adopt a coral frame. Those who have visited our Resorts or anyone who wants to become a part of our Coral Conservation Project, supporting our projects as well as the Maldivian coral reefs.

The coral frame may be adopted directly at the Resort at the time of visit or online by using paypal using this link.

The coral frames will ultimately last forever, if the conditions for corals are ideal. Usually, after two years the frame may not even be recongnizable since the corals may have covered the frame completely. However, we send regular updates and facts about the frames as well as doing regular maintenance to keep the corals alive.

The coral frames are located in lagoon of Thudufushi, more specifically a once bare sandy patch located just in front of the Water Villa Restaurant. It is possible for anyone to visit the area by snorkeling or diving.

Updates on the frames will now be sent regularly throughout the year, at least once a
month with regular stories and articles related to coral reefs. Users of the new site will also receive an email as soon as a new update has been posted on their frame. As always, we are happy to receive your email if you require more information.

The frame is built by welding iron bars into a functional shape which is then placed on the sand. The coral fragments are attached using plastic cable ties. Although plastic, it is currently giving us the best results and keeping the fragments in place. However, we are working in collaboration with the University to find new ways to use materials which reduce the impact on the environment.

Corals are animals formed by single or multiple polyps. A polyp resambles an upside-down jellyfish. The polyps produce a calcium carbonate skeletons which forms the baseline material structuring the coral reefs and the islands in the Maldives.

Corals form coral reefs. Coral Reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystem on Earth (together with the rainforest) hosting thousands of species and organisms. It also represents a healthy source of goods and benefits for humans without which most living in tropical areas relying on these systems may disappear. It also gives us the pleasure for enjoying an unforgettable experience of colors, shapes and amazing creatures.

By building a coral frame we are able to take broken fragments from the reef. Such fragments have little chance of survival, since they may be covered by sand, moved by the current or eaten by predators. As such we are helping these fragments to have a higher chance of survival may help the survival and ultimately recover the dying reefs. The collected fragments are fixed on the frame for stability, away from the sand and gaining protection from predators (removed during the regular maintenance). Such conditions are favorable for the survival and growth of the new colony. In the future, it will reproduce, giving larvae a chance to settle onto the degraded reef, where it provides shelter for thousands of organisms such as fish, crabs, shrimps or their juveniles.

Naturally, events such as increasing temperatures, storms and hurricanes, an outbreak of coral predators may increase coral mortality. Currently, human activities such as
unregulated snorkel and diving practices along with destructive fishing methods and the aquarium trade are increasing the rate at which these events are happening. In addition, the resources gained from the ocean are being overexploited at an alarming rate and threatening the survival of corals and the related ecosystem.

Any project related to the conservation of corals can be regarded as a possible solution to the threat of the coral reefs. The Coral Conservation Project is an effort of everyone who loves the ocean and wants to avoid the loss of the wonderful underwater world. However, the real solution begins with human behavior such as the reduction of ocean pollution, overfishing or the use of fossil-fuel.

Absolutely yes. Coral frames provide a nursery, a home, a shelter or food for hundreds of organisms. As soon as corals start growing more organisms will start to colonize the frame. Fish, snails, nudibranchs, seastars, crabs, shrimps, hydrozoan, ascidians, and many more creatures may be found around the coral frames.