SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel Issue 16, September 2016 | Page 61

“Local management actions can build the resilience of coral reefs thus helping them to survive this national bleaching event.”

Practices such as dredging, sand replenishment, and fishing or purchasing of herbivorous fish such as parrotfish and surgeonfish – which are essential for reef recovery – are strongly discouraged. Reef users are urged to minimise adverse impacts to corals during this sensitive and critical time.

“Initiatives such as the coral bleaching survey are just one example of USAID’s commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change in Maldives. The U.S. Government is taking a lead role in addressing this phenomenon through mitigation, adaptation and financial assistance,” says Thomas Bayer, Acting Mission Director for USAID Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Ocean and coral reef conservation will be among the issues highlighted in the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 taking place from September 1-10 in Hawai´i. The United States of America is the host of the IUCN Congress.

See more at: https://www.iucn.org/news/maldives-coral-reefs-under-stress-climate-change-research-survey-reveals-over-60-corals

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