Environment Minister inaugurates Sharks and Ray Symposium
The Government of the Maldives, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru, in partnership with The Manta Trust, hosted a ministerial Indian Ocean Shark and Ray Conservation Symposium from 25 October to 26 October 2016 at Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru.
This special meeting took place between the Maldivian, Sri Lankan, and Seychelles Ministers of Environment and Fisheries and focused on the global crisis faced by sharks and rays. Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Maldives, Mr. Abdulla Mohamed Didi, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka, Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera. Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives: Mr. Ahmed Hafiz, Special Advisor to the Minister of Environment Dr. Abdulla Naseer attended the meeting on behalf of their respective organizations.
The meeting was inaugurated by the Minister of Environment and Energy Mr.Ibrahim Thoriq, and in his opening remarks he highlighted on the urgent need for sharks and rays to be protected and highlighted on the Governments initiatives being undertaken at international level.
The meeting concluded with a declaration tabled by the Maldivian government and signed by all Ministers present, agreeing to work together to protect the sharks and rays across the Indian Ocean. During the meeting it was stated by the Maldives that they will be submitting a proposal to the upcoming CITES meeting to include all silky sharks under Appendix II of CITES.
Hanifaru reef damage assessment ongoing
A team from Environment Protection Agency together with Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office is at present undertaking a survey to assess the damage caused to the reef due to the grounding of a vessel on 25 october 2016.
The damage assessment survey will be conducted from 1 to 3 November and once the survey is completed survey findings will be send to EPA for further action.
The vessel ran aground on to the reef of Hanifaru on the evening of 25 October. Upon receiving this news a team comprising of Biosphere Reserve Office staff and Maldives Police Services attended the scene with guidance provided by Environmental Protection Agency.
Efforts to salvage the vessel began the following morning and was floated back to sea on 28 October.
Waste Management Service in Dharavandhoo begins
Waste Management services on the island of Dharavandhoo was inaugurated by Director General of Environmental Protection Agency Mr.Ibrahim Naeem today at a special ceremony held in Dharavandhoo. All members of the Dharavandhoo Island Council, representatives from Maldives Environmental Project and figureheads from the community were present at this function.
This initiative is spearheaded by Dharavandhoo Council supported by the Ministry of Environment under the Maldives Environment Management Project (MEMP) and Public Sector Investment Programme(PSIP) and is being under taken under the slogan #SaafuRaajje (Clean Maldives Campaign).
BR Team visits newly opened reosrts in Baa
A team from Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office together with Baa Atoll Conservation Fund recently visited the newly opened resorts in Baa Atoll. The main purpose of the visit was to share information with the management of the resorts on Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve and also to undertake the same exercise with the Dive School and watersports teams of the resorts.
The #BRTeam first visited #DhigufaruIslandResort and met with Resident Manager of the resort Mr.Ibrahim Thasleem, Dive and Water sports Team of the resort and from there on travelled to #Milaidhoo Island and undertook meeting with the General Manager Mr.Shuhan together with the resident marine biologist and Dive and Water Sports Team of #Milaidhoo Island.
The #BRTeam was led by the Mr.Abdulla Shibau from Baa Atoll Conservation Fund and was accompanied by the Conservation Officer and the 2 Rangers of #BROffice. 
