Hanifaru Manta Season 2019
We would like to welcome all Hanifaru Protected Area users to Manta Season 2019.
As we start counting the days of May today, we kindly advise you when visiting Hanifaru MPA, to strictly follow the Hanifaru Management Plan and hereby highlight the following:
1. Please follow Hanifaru schedule when visiting Hanifaru MPA.
2. Inform Ranger HOTLINE 7905949 prior to visiting Hanifaru MPA.
3. Access Permits 2018/2019 is available from BR Office (Eydhafushi) and EPA (Male’).
4. Access Permits purchased in 2018 is valid until the end of May 2018.
5. New Access Permits for 2019/2020 will be available from BR Office and Male’ from 1 June 2019 onwards.
6. At a time there can only be maximum of 8 vessels at Hanifaru excluding the Ranger Vessel (5 at moorings and 3 at the waiting area), please make sure to follow this to avoid unnecessary hassles.
7. Although at present it is 1 GUIDE per 10 GUESTS, please look out for the weather, if the weather turns bad make necessary arrangements prior to arriving Hanifaru MPA to have enough GUIDES to look after the guests in the water .
8. Captains of vessels should use a separate rope to moor at Hanifaru when using the existing mooring bouys.
9. As Videography and Photography of Hanifaru requires special permission please ensure that you have all the necessary permits in hand if and when requested by the Rangers.
10. The use of DRONES for any purpose is strictly prohibited at Hanifaru without prior written permission from BR OFFICE.
11. It is the responsibility of HANIFARU TOUR GUIDES to ensure that Hanifaru Regulation is being followed and to ensure that GUESTS as well as BOAT CAPTAINS and CREW are aware of it and the rules are being followed.
We wish you all a very successful Manata Season
Manta Festival 2019 venue and dates finalized
The decisiosn on a venue to hold Manta Festival 2019 was taken today by the organizers of the festival. It was decided by the Organizwers that this year's festival will be held in Eydhafushi after discussions Baa Atoll Council, Eydhafuhsi Council, Baa Atoll Education Centre and Baa Atoll Biopshere Reserve Office.
Baa Atoll Manta Festival 2019 will take place on 20th and 21st September 2019 on Eydhafushi Island and include two day and evening events dedicated to celebrating the beauty of Maldives’ marine ecosystems and manta rays, aiming to bring communities together from across Baa Atoll and the Maldives. The event will build on last year’s successful festival which took place on Dharavandhoo and drew in over 1000 visitors, 13 schools and 22 resorts and environmental organisations. Please see www.facebook.com/BaaMantaFest for last years highlights.
This year, we will have an estimated 2000-3000 visitors; student participants from 13 schools in Baa and beyond as well as resorts, environmental organisations, local businesses and artists showcasing their work. The event will feature over 30 interactive stalls, manta snorkelling fieldtrips, marine-themed competitions, environmental speakers, and performances.
Each partner will be responsible for different aspects of festival organisation. The festival will include two day-to-night events. These will include schools, resorts and NGOs showcasing conservation work through stalls and activities, as well as competitions, snorkeling sessions, music and presentations from guest speakers.
The festival will be organised by the five partners – Manta Trust, Baa Atoll Council, Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office, Eydhafushi Island Council and Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. s well as resort sponsors.
Manta Ray Workshop
Maldives Manta Research Programme hosted a Manta Ray Workshop at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru on behalf of Manta Trust on 23 May 2019.
A total of 55 participants from 21 resorts, guest houses, dive centres and Councils were there at the Workshop where the biology and ecology of manta rays were discussed, information on manta research education together with Marine Education Program for local schools was shared and also discussed were the findings of 2018 annual report of MMRP.
A special presentation from the Biosphere Reserve Maldives Office was also made in this Workshop focussing on Hanifaru Protected Area in which the participants were made aware of the Hanifaru Regulations. do's and do nots's in the area and also on the experiences of Rangers of Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve in managing the area.
The timing of the Workshop was indeed great because it coincided with the start of Hanifaru Season 2019 and the main resource users of the atoll being there was of immnese importance.
The Nautilus, Soneva Fushi, Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa, Dharavandhoo Divers Maldives, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Dusit Thani Maldives, Finolhu, Milaidhoo, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, Royal island Resort & Spa / Maldives, Reethi Beach Resort, Amilla Fushi, Reethi Faru Resort, Joali Maldives, Faarufushi Maldives, Manta Reisen, Kihaa Maldives, Baa Atoll Education Centre, and Secretariat of Baa Atoll Council attended theis very important Workshop.
"Moodhu Madharusaa" - Ocean School
"Moodhu Madharusa" - Ocean School, an initiative by Manta Trust in association with Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office has kicked off today in Eydhafushi with 64 students from Baa Atoll Education Centre taking part.
The Marine Education Programme includes practical classes linked to each module, taking students out into the ocean to get up-close and personal with the world beneath the waves.
During theory lessons, Manta Trust staff together with staff from Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office will give presentations and run interactive learning activities for students in the classroom. As part of the programme the students so far have learnt about marine ecology and coral reefs, completed a beach cleanup of the isalnd, and explored their islands reef, some for the very first time!
The main highlight of "Moodhu Madharusaa" will be the snorkelling trip to Hanifaru Bay to be upclose with the manta rays.
“Moodhu Madharusa” a program organized by Manta Trust in association with Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office in Baa Atoll will have a different venue next year as it is the aim of the program to hold the event on each inhabited island every year working with the island school.
The Marine Education Programme of "Moodhu Madharusaa" is based on five core modules; Maldives Marine Ecosystems, Coral Reef Ecosystems, Coastal Ecosystems, Pollution and Waste Management, Conservation and Ecosystem Management.
