Get involved in coral conservation
Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Six Senses Laamu, Six Senses Fiji and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay are all committed to coral projects to preserve and restore this highly sensitive ecosystem.
Anse Peniche colony
Six Senses Zil Pasyon has partnered with local NGOs Nature Seychelles, Ramos Marine and Island Reserve, in addition to the Seychelles National Park Authority, to pursue coral restoration around Félicité Island. Having the opportunity to help rebuild the underwater environments is positive both for the local environment where the resort operates and the tourism that visits the island. It is hoped that healthy reefs will invite back the beautiful marine life for guests to see while snorkeling or diving around Félicité.
During 2018, corals grew over 200 percent on average, with a growth range of between 85 and 422 percent per harvested segment. Survival rate was 93.4 percent, with the majority of the loss resulting from nursery damage that unfortunately took place during August’s rough monsoon season.
Coral transplantation
Coral transplantation is underway under the watchful eye of our Sustainability Manager and Marine Biologist Anna Zora: “The coral nursery has not only allowed us to improve the marine ecosystems surrounding our island, but it has also given us the opportunity to engage and educate our guests, hosts and local community regarding the importance of coral reefs and the negative impact human activity can have on our environment. It has also been a wonderful collaboration between multiple organizations and demonstrates the strong commitment to conservation in Seychelles.”
Corals are being returned to the natural reef environment, where they will continue to grow and flourish. With the creation of the new coral garden in the designated Marine Park Area surrounding Félicité Island, fish and other marine life will begin to return, enhancing the natural ecosystems as well as the guest experience for keen snorkelers at Six Senses Zil Pasyon.
While you’re with us, we encourage you to swim the lines and see the plantation for yourself.
The coral project at Ninh Van Bay
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay collaborates with the Oceanography Institute to research and survey the coral as well as plan for the restoration. In 2017, we launched the coral restoration program with a feasibility study, which is expected to successfully nurse more than 80 percent of transplanted coral pieces back to health.
You can help to re-attach broken shards of living coral to natural frameworks adjacent to the natural reef; a similar concept as to planting a personal tree. This stage is currently in the development process using background knowledge about the bay and reef conditions.
Sustainable Hotel award for Six Senses Fiji
Six Senses Fiji works diligently to attach fractured coral strings to the bottom of the bay in front of the resort to find their roots. Since the initiative began at the end of 2015, the group has seen brilliant progress, with a thriving coral garden as the outcome. The more coral life there is, the louder the vibration sound, attracting more fish and life to the bay. Six Senses Fiji was recognized for its climate efforts including coral restoration at the annual HICAP 2018 Sustainable Hotel Awards.
Protecting Laamu Atoll’s marine environment
In October 2018, Six Senses Laamu was named Marine and Coastal category winner at the 17th Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards.
The award recognizes Six Senses Laamu’s commitment to protect the local marine environment, spearheaded by the efforts of a nine-member marine team, the Maldives Underwater Initiative. The team has been regularly monitoring the health of reefs since 2012. Their conservation and research efforts have since expanded across numerous disciplines, including coral restoration, seagrass, turtles, dolphins and manta rays.
Since the bold pledge in 2017 to protect its 538,195 square feet (50,000 square meters) of seagrass, the resort has been reaping the benefits … don’t be surprised if you enjoy a snorkel with a grazing green sea turtle for company!
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Global Tourism Plastics Initiative
We are delighted to be one of the first signatories of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, part of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme led by the UN Environment Programme and UN World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Connecting to local communities
With uninhabited islands all around this remote atoll in the Maldives, Six Senses Laamu may feel like paradise lost. But it’s a brilliant place to find your calling, perhaps by contributing to community life above and below water.