The annual Lhaviyani Turtle Festival is returning this weekend for an exciting two-day celebration of marine conservation. Organised by Naifaru Juvenile and Atoll Marine Conservation Centre, the event will take place on the October 18 and 19, 2024, on Lh. Naifaru. The event offers a mix of activities for all, inspiring everyone to protect our oceans and marine life.

Day 1: The Atoll Marine Symposium

Kick-starting the event on the October 18, 2024, is the 2nd Atoll Marine Symposium: ‘Tides of Change – Our Ocean’s Future’, hosted at Villa College Campus on Naifaru. This symposium brings together experts in marine conservation, from NGOs, resort marine biologists, and community leaders to discuss critical marine conservation topics. Attendees will hear from key figures, including representatives from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy, Addu City Council’s Nature Park, and NGOs such as Manta Trust, Olive Ridley Project, Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, Reefscapers, Small Island Geographic Society, Clean Maldives, and more.

Day 2: Festival Day

Saturday the October 19, 2024, marks the official festival day, brimming with fun and educational activities. From resort guests to local children, there’s something for everyone! This year, the festival extends beyond sea turtles, emphasising the broader threats facing the marine environment. A key focus for the festival is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to take action in protecting the environment, while highlighting the efforts of multiple stakeholders working together to ensure a sustainable future for the Maldives, and the ocean.

Held on Velaa Beach, festival-goers will find a wide array of stalls, from NGO-led marine awareness activities, to local craft stalls and food vendors. The day will feature games and entertainment designed to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation in an interactive and engaging way.

Additionally, throughout the day, presentations from Olive Ridley Project, Miyaru, and Addu City Nature Park will shed light on important conservation topics. The Atoll Marine Conservation Centre will also be open for visitors, offering a chance to meet some of the centre’s rescued sea turtles and learn about their rehabilitation journeys.

More Schools, More Impact!

One of the main goals of the festival is to educate and inspire young people. This year, nine schools—three from Lhaviyani Atoll and six from other atolls including Raa, Baa, Noonu, and Malé—will be attending. By expanding the reach of the festival, Naifaru Juvenile hopes to empower even more young Maldivians to become ocean stewards.

Competitions and Community Efforts

Throughout the week, schools and local teams have been hard at work for the Plastic Bottle Collection Competition, amassing over 1,500kg of plastic bottles in just one week on Naifaru. This massive effort underscores the critical need for community collaboration to tackle the waste management issue in the Maldives. These plastic bottles will be packaged into Parley bags, in collaboration with Parley Maldives, who will ship the bottles to Male to be recycled into new products!

On festival day, students will compete in creative challenges like the Waste Sculpture and Recycled Bag and Dress Making competitions. They will also be judged on their stall design and take part in a Sand-Sculpture competition. Other highlights include the Traditional Dance Competition on the main stage, as well as a Photography competition, and a Lucky Raffle draw! Anyone who purchases a festival t-shirt will be entered into the lucky draw, and is in for a chance to win a huge prize of a three nights stay at The Robinson Club, Noonu!

Families, students, local communities, and resort guests were all invited to join in a celebration of conservation at the festival. This event was not merely a celebration; it served as a call to action, empowering individuals to take small, meaningful steps to protect the precious marine ecosystems.

The Six Senses Kanuhura Lhaviyani Turtle Festival was made possible by the generous support of its sponsors. Special recognition was given to the title sponsor, Six Senses Kanuhura, as well as main sponsors Trans Maldivian Airways, Cora Cora Maldives, and Cheval Blanc Randheli. The festival organizers expressed gratitude to their co-sponsors, including Secret Paradise Maldives, Reethi Faru Resort, and Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives. Additionally, Allied Insurance, Velaa Private Island, Le Meridien, Robinson Noonu, Ooredoo, Soneva, Naifaru Council, and MIFCO all played a vital role in ensuring the success of this year’s festival.