{"id":997,"date":"2025-09-22T17:22:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/?page_id=997"},"modified":"2025-10-13T15:31:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T15:31:16","slug":"maldives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/maldives\/","title":{"rendered":"Maldives"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Maldives” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Roboto Slab|||on|||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#315D89″ title_font_size=”46px” title_letter_spacing=”16px” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|0px||-7px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” title_letter_spacing_tablet=”16px” title_letter_spacing_phone=”3px” title_letter_spacing_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Kihaadhoo Marine Research Station” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Quicksand||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#2AAF8A” header_font_size=”27px” body_font=”Quicksand||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quicksand||||||||” text_text_color=”#0f0f0f” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.9em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

This team is establishing a community-based marine research station<\/strong> in the Maldives. The station will focus on expanding understanding of local marine science, conservation and restoration of reef biosphere, and training local youth. The project will operate under a social enterprise model<\/strong>, combining research, education, and community benefit.<\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][dvmd_image_box image_url=”https:\/\/mrds.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1-Island-view_Kamadhoo_1_Kamadhoo-Inn_Baa_Hanifaru-Bay_Maldives-scaled-1.jpg” image_box_size_preset=”33.3%” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dvmd_image_box][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#2AAF8A” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#2AAF8A” toggle_font=”|600|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Vision” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”Quicksand||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”Quicksand||||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off”]<\/p>\n

To establish a small-scale, community-based marine research station on Kihaadhoo partnering with marine scientists from respected universities, which can advance understanding of local marine habitats, promote restoration of surrounding reef environments, and develop professional skills of island youth\u2014making the island a model of conservation and sustainable development in the Maldives. <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why Kihaadhoo?” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”Quicksand||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”Quicksand||||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px”]<\/p>\n

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  • Located in Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a globally recognised sanctuary for marine biodiversity. <\/span><\/li>\n
  • Kihaadhoo Island Council and a Kihaadhoo NGO are committed to partnering on this project.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • \n

    The island’s infrastructure – including reliable electricity, freshwater, transport links, internet connectivity, and communications – meets essential requirements for marine research and aquaculture work<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Home to a vibrant Maldivian community committed to conservation and youth development<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”The First Project” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Quicksand|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#2AAF8A” header_font_size=”27px” body_font=”Quicksand||||||||” body_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.82)” body_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

    To spawn and rear larvae of indigenous sea cucumbers (Holothuria fuscogilva<\/em> and H. nobilis<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n
        \n
      • Both <\/span>species have been overharvested in the past decades, yet serve vital roles in reef ecosystems<\/span><\/li>\n
      • \n

        Spawning and larval grow-out trials will be conducted to assess the feasibility of culturing these species.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Baseline data for aquaculture and reef restoration will be established to guide future scaling.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Maldivian youth will be trained in marine science and hatchery techniques through this pilot, in partnership with experienced sea cucumber scientists.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/mrds.org\/donate\/MillenniumDonate\/index\/MarineResearch-Hw.001″ url_new_window=”on” button_text=”DONATE” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#2AAF8A” button_border_color=”#2AAF8A” button_font=”Quicksand||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dvmd_image_box image_url=”https:\/\/mrds.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/blackspotted-sea-cucumber_bohadschia-graeffei-vardhan-patankar_cuaslv.jpg” image_box_size_preset=”66.7%” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dvmd_image_box][dvmd_image_box image_url=”https:\/\/mrds.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Manta-06.webp” image_box_size_preset=”66.7%” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dvmd_image_box][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        This team is establishing a community-based marine research station in the Maldives. The station will focus on expanding understanding of local marine science, conservation and restoration of reef biosphere, and training local youth. The project will operate under a social enterprise model, combining research, education, and community benefit.

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        \"\"<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>To establish a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-997","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=997"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1011,"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/997\/revisions\/1011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrds.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}