Investing in the Future of Marine Conservation Six Senses Laamu launches Junior Marine Biology program
Maldives
PUBLISHED May 17, 2019
Everyone can be a marine
conservationist. Thats the message Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), the
marine team at Six
Senses Laamu, wants to share with the next generation of marine stewards.
For this summer holiday, MUI is launching the Junior Marine Biology program for budding conservationists aged 6 to 16. The
first of its kind in the Maldives, the program pairs one-on-one mentoring from
the 10 MUI marine biologists with a "choose your own adventure" structure that
allows the junior marine biologists to design their own personalized program.
Marteyne van Well, Six Senses Laamu general manager,
says, "This program is truly unique. Unlike anything Ive seen in the Maldives,
its more than just a "be a marine biologist for a day experience. This is
multiple sessions over the length of a guests stay that will help foster
deeper engagement and understanding of marine biology."
One of the largest marine teams in the Maldives,
MUIs 10 regular marine biologists have expertise in fields such as coral
restoration, turtles, manta rays, seagrass and fisheries management. Young
conservationists have the opportunity to be involved in ongoing research
projects such as expanding the resorts turtle database of 420 individuals, or
joining the coral biologist in restoring the reef with the mid-water rope coral
nursery.
The only resort in the southern Maldives Laamu
Atoll, Six Senses Laamu has pristine coral reefs, abundant seagrass beds, and
mangrove forests right on its doorstep. Rich in marine life, these environments
provide the perfect opportunity to see first-hand the importance of conserving
the oceans.
Shelley Turnbull, Junior Marine Biology program
coordinator, says the program will tap into the passion of future ocean
stewards and encourage them to protect these habitats in Laamu and across the
globe.
"We want our Junior Marine Biologists to have the
tools they need and be empowered to create change back at home. Every action
and every person, no matter how small, can have a positive impact on ocean
conservation. We have already seen todays youth coming up with innovative
solutions to the problems past generations have created, such as plastic
pollution. Take BioCellection for example; what began as an idea following a
field trip to the local waste facility by high school seniors is now an
enterprise turning plastics in landfill into chemicals to be used again."
Young guests who are interested in becoming a Junior
Marine Biologist can register their interest at the time of their booking and
be greeted on arrival by the MUI team, ready to begin their adventure.