21/03/2021
The House Reef and marine seascapes are a resort’s environmental responsibility.
'Of major importance, most people expect in the Maldives to be able to snorkel around the hotel island and see some great fish. Not here, other than around the underwater restaurant where the fish are fed, the house reef is small and extremely disappointing. For newcomers to Maldives, my advice for you is to choose a location known to have a great house reef and lots of sea life around it.' (Guest review extracted from Trip Advisor).
Post COVID-19, one of the first actions guests should do when booking a coastal resort holiday is to do some marine research and find out what condition the House Reef and general health of the marine environment is in. For those that are not familiar with the term House Reef, it is generally the most inspiring and visited area of nearby reef that is easily accessible to guests. So skip through the eco-friendly green washing, enhanced reality pictures on social media and covers of glossy magazines. Forget club membership and loyalty programmes and start voting with your wallet and spend holiday money with resorts that actually care and look after the needs of the marine ecosystem.
For too long, coastal resorts (island and beach) have neglected the marine environment that falls directly under their foreshore lease. Anything below low tide seems to be forgotten and ignored. Instead, landscaping, sweeping up leaf litter and pruning coconut trees become top priorities for the picture perfect setting.
Resorts continually use all sorts of clichés to describe their marine environment: breathtaking reefs, wonderland of white sand, turquoise seas and even azure seas. Yet in reality most foreshores are a wasteland of broken razor sharp coral where tourists have trampled and broken colonies as they flounder amongst floating plastic. Seagrass beds have been ripped out because they look f’ugly and schools of diseased fish wait for left over food scraps as they swim around under slicks of sunscreen oil. Mats of algae dominate the substrate near the outfall flows of brine and untreated grey water sewage. It’s not pretty.
Guests coming to the Maldives (perhaps the world’s busiest resort nation with nearly 150 properties) do expect clear blue seas and a plethora of marine life to see as part of the atoll experience. For many it is their first time to see a turtle in the wild or a baby reef shark cruising along the beach. Top notch restaurants, soothing spas and strength 5 Wi-Fi signal around the property should not be important criteria before splashing huge amounts of cash on a holiday. Jumping on a high-powered speedboat to visit less damaged reefs or chasing down megafauna are not alternative substitutes. Marine life and spectacular reefs should be freely on show.
So how about becoming a ‘Considerate & Caring Tourist’ with each one of us leaving the House Reef in a better way then it was? One only needs to see how the inconsiderate few have managed to collectively restrict wild camping throughout Europe by leaving their trash around and ruining the countryside for everyone else.
Once nestled into your overwater bungalow start showing some interest in the marine environment, given that you are spending upwards of ten days living and sleeping above it. On top of this, a few hours a day will be spent snorkelling and diving in it as well. Take notes: report coral breakage and trash/net entanglement, ensure there is no fish feeding and take underwater images (so coral colonies can be compared over timelines).
The long-term objective for all guests is to get resorts to care about the House Reef and marine seascapes. Why? Because simply the resorts will go bust or become better managed unless they do as their guests tell them to. If the marine seascape fails to meet high standards and questionable harmful activities appear to be happening then speak with the onsite management team. Don’t be the silent majority as it ruins the experience for the next guest. And don’t forget to compliment resorts that show a high degree of marine stewardship.
Leave the threat of ocean warming and acidification to the scientists and Governments to formulate policies on – the role you play as a guest on near shore shallow reefs and marine seascapes is equally important with instantaneous results. Demand a vibrant reef and make sure your presence has a minimal impact on the fragile marine ecosystem. The House Reef needs to remain intact for years to come, not just so other guests can enjoy the experience but also as a vital hotspot for biodiversity.
