The blue-hued Maldives are renowned for marking milestone moments. At Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, a very special celebration has taken place this month; one that impacts the future of the islands themselves. In partnership with Reefscapers, the Resorts planted their 9000th coral frame in the ocean, the latest landmark in a series of pioneering marine conservation projects that span more than two decades.
The beginning of a bold partnership
One of the world’s most successful coral restoration projects, the reef regeneration efforts at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives began after the 1997–1998 El Niño bleaching event. Coastal oceanographer Thomas Le Berre of Seamarc Pvt. (now Reefscapers) approached the newly launched Four Seasons in the Maldives with his vision for coral propagation, leading to one of the Indian Ocean’s largest artificial reef systems, covering 3.05 acres.
A game-changing coral frame technique
Supported by Four Seasons, Thomas’s research led to the development of a revolutionary coral frame technique. Now adopted by conservationists worldwide, it involves attaching small coral fragments onto metal frames that are then planted on the seabed to regenerate coral reefs.
Expanding ocean impact across islands
Like the coral it supports, the project has grown in many ways over the years. Its success at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa led to the creation of Marine Discovery Centres at both locations, staffed by 11 full-time marine biologists. Key initiatives include coral spawning research, sea turtle rehabilitation, and a Fish Lab that breeds ornamental reef fish in captivity to ease pressure on natural reefs. Landaa also became the birthplace of The Manta Trust, now a global charity for manta ray conservation.
Reefscapers meets AI innovation
In 2020, the team developed an AI-powered catamaran that uses robotics to enhance monitoring efforts. This innovation contributed to the world’s largest coral restoration study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, using Artificial Intelligence to assess and document reef data.
Battling bleaching through action
Climate change poses a huge threat to a country reliant on coral reefs. In 2016, the teams were devastated when 90 percent of the shallow water corals in Baa died in a bleaching event. When a mass bleaching event was predicted in 2024, the onsite Reefscapers teams were able to take preventative action, relocating an incredible 28,000 corals – between 450 and 500 frames – from shallow 2–3 metre sites to depths of 6–12 metres in a bid to save them.
Voices of the reef: restoring life, restoring hope
“Our 9,000th coral frame is an uplifting milestone for us,” comments Armando Kraenzlin, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. “The Reefscapers teams at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives are all inspired by a shared love for the ocean and a determination to protect it from harm caused by human actions. As the restoration sites grow, we are seeing significant growth in the numbers of smaller species that live in and around the coral. This in turn attracts larger animals including sharks, eagle rays and turtles around the sites – restoring hope with every frame.”
Education as the tide turner
The Reefscapers teams at Landaa Giraavaru, Kuda Huraa and Voavah know that one of the most important aspects of reef regeneration is education. School visits to local islands spread the conservation message and inspire a sense of custodianship of the reefs. Landaa also runs a marine biology internship for local students that is now in its third year, while guests at both resorts can learn about the pioneering project through hands-on reef building, as well as immersive programs for juniors at Kuda Huraa and Trainee Marine Savers modules for environmentally minded teens at Landaa Giraavaru.
A collective commitment to the ocean
Four Seasons also sponsors a number of frames every week, although the majority are sponsored by guests. “A key part of our role here is to spread knowledge and spark interest,” concludes Armando. “What happens next is largely down to the passion, drive and commitment of those who visit the Maldives and choose to become the ocean stewards of the future through involvement in sponsorship programs and internships. When it comes to marine conservation, we are all in this together.”
