Maldives – The blue-hued Maldives are renowned for marking milestone moments. At Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, a very special celebration has taken place this month; one that impacts the future of the islands themselves. In partnership with Reefscapers, the Res orts planted their 9000th coral frame in the ocean, the latest landmark in a series of pioneering marine conservation projects that span more than two decades.

One of the most successful coral restoration projects of its kind in the world, the reef regeneration efforts at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives were born in the wake of the 1997-1998 El Nino bleaching event. Coastal oceanographer Thomas Le Berre of Seamarc Pvt. – now Reefscapers – approached the then new-to-the-Maldives Four Seasons with his dreams of coral propagation. A visionary partnership was born, leading to one of the Indian Ocean’s largest masses of artificial reefs to date covering 3.05 acres (2,351 square metres).

Supported by Four Seasons, Thomas’s research led to the development of a revolutionary coral frame technique.  Now adopted by conservationists worldwide, it involves attaching small coral fragments onto metal frames that are then planted on the seabed to regenerate coral reefs.

Like the coral it supports, the project has grown in myriad ways over the years. The coral propagation success at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa led to Marine Discovery Centres at both Resorts served by a team of 11 full-time marine biologists. Marine conservation projects there include coral spawning research, sea turtle rehabilitation, and a Fish Lab to breed ornamental reef fish in captivity, reducing pressures on the natural reef. Landaa also became the birthplace of The Manta Trust – now a global charity dedicated to the worldwide protection of manta rays.

Reefscapers and Four Seasons continue to evolve reef restoration. Resort guests at Four Seasons two resort islands as well as Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah can transplant their own reef and watch it grow via online photo updates. In 2020, the onsite development of an AI catamaran that uses robotics to improve monitoring efforts led to the publication of the world’s largest coral restoration study to date in peer-reviewed journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, using Artificial Intelligence to assess, analyse and record data.

Climate change poses a huge threat to a country reliant on coral reefs. In 2016, the teams were devastated when 90 percent of the shallow water corals in Baa died in a bleaching event. When a mass bleaching event was predicted in 2024, the onsite Reefscapers teams were able to take preventative action, relocating an incredible 28,000 corals – between 450 and 500 frames – from shallow 2-3 metre sites to depths of 6-12 metres in a bid to save them.

On nearby island Fulhadhoo, building the coral frames supports the local economy. The frames are made from metal rebars and coated in a special mix of sand and resin to protect them from corrosion. Fragments of Acropora corals – collected from local healthy mature colonies – are attached securely before the frame is labelled, planted in the reef and photographed for monitoring purposes. 

“Our 9,000th coral frame is an uplifting milestone for us,” comments Armando Kraenzlin, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. “The Reefscapers teams at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives are all inspired by a shared love for the ocean and a determination to protect it from harm caused by human actions. As the restoration sites grow, we are seeing significant growth in the numbers of smaller species that live in and around the coral. This in turn attracts larger animals including sharks, eagle rays and turtles around the sites – restoring hope with every frame.”

The Reefscapers teams at Landaa Giraavaru, Kuda Huraa and Voavah know that one of the most important aspects of reef regeneration is education. School visits to local islands spread the conservation message and inspire a sense of custodianship of the reefs. Landaa also runs a marine biology internship for local students that is now in its third year, while guests at both resorts can learn about the pioneering project through hands-on reef building, as well as immersive programs for juniors at Kuda Huraa and Trainee Marine Savers modules for environmentally minded teens at Landaa Giraavaru.

Four Seasons also sponsors a number of frames every week, although the majority are sponsored by guests. “A key part of our role here is to spread knowledge and spark interest,” concludes Armando. “What happens next is largely down to the passion, drive and commitment of those who visit the Maldives and choose to become the ocean stewards of the future through involvement in sponsorship programs and internships. When it comes to marine conservation, we are all in this together.”