![MDC and Aquarium refurbished - Marine Savers Maldives [1405] 1920px](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/MDC-and-Aquarium-refurbished-Marine-Savers-Maldives-1405-1920px.jpg "MDC and Aquarium refurbished - Marine Savers Maldives [1405] 1920px")
Fish Lab & Marine Aquaria
Clownfish Breeding
No eggs were produced this month by either the Amphiprion nigripes (Maldivian clownfish) or A.clarkii (Clark’s clownfish) breeding pairs. We think the recent months of seasonally elevated ocean temperatures have affected their behaviours. Our pair of A.ocellaris (Common clownfish) continue to spawn and consume the eggs within the first few days.
In our juveniles’ tanks, the Clark’s (below) and Common clownfish are continuing to grow at a healthy rate.
Plankton production
Rotifer production has stabilised this month, following the sulphur bacterial bloom experienced in May. Our feeding schedule has been adjusted to 100ml 3 times daily, which has also proved successful and will be continued.
Artemia production is going well, for consumption by the juvenile clownfish, jellyfish polyps and the main display tank. Day-2 Artemia were also added to a 100L algae bucket to provide larger food for the bigger fish.
Small Aquarium Two
Mini frame – removed on 26 May for recoating, and on 17 June it was retransplanted with new Acropora digitifera fragments and rehoused in the aquarium.
Coral specimens – the yellow mushroom coral died and was removed from the tank, however, the large Galaxea fascicularis colony is growing well and has started to encrust on the aquarium wall.
Our Clark’s anemonefish laid 2 batches of eggs this month (on 8 June and 23 June).
This month, we added 4 bubble-tip anemones for the anemone damselfish; we will monitor their growth over the coming months, and move them between the 2 aquaria if necessary.
Large Marine Aquarium
Most corals in our 4000L marine aquarium are recovering, except the Acropora echinata colony, which did not survive the recent seasonally elevated temperatures. Some colonies are still bleached, but we are hoping for a full recovery over the coming month.
Small Aquarium One
Mini frame – the five remaining coral fragments are still alive and healthy (with a small decrease in encrusting).
Coral specimens – the 2 corals show some bleaching (Porites cylindrica and Euphyllia sp.).
Linckia multifora sea stars
- SS1 (large specimen) – an overall decrease in arm length was recorded (perhaps due to heat stress).
- SS3 (large specimen) – a small increase in arm length of 1mm.
Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)
Our jellyfish polyps continue to show improvement. Attachment remains high and numbers have increased. This provides a solid basis for when we can begin the process of repopulating our main display tank.
REEFSCAPERS Coral Propagation Program
Coral Reef Transplanting
The NOAA bleaching projections for Maldives are categorised as “Warning/Watch” in June, lowering to “Watch”during July.
Monthly Progress
During June, we monitored 122 coral frames at Landaa Giraavaru, and 523 coral frames at Kuda Huraa. We have recorded coral mortality rates of between 30% to 80% at various sites, due to the seasonally elevated ocean temperatures experienced this year.
The good news is that we are already seeing signs of recovery, as many of the paled corals regain their healthy colouration, both on our coral frames and out on the natural reefs nearby.
Check out our 2020 Diary for further details and photographs of the recent coral bleaching.
Sea Turtle Conservation
Read about Shakti’s rescue & recovery, and follow her journey around the Maldives and beyond, on our satellite tracking map
At our Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at Landaa, we closed the month of June with 6 rescue Olive Ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea), plus the following turtle patients at Kuda Huraa: 1 green (Chelonia mydas), 5 Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), 6 Olive Ridleys.
Meet the patients (below) currently housed in our turtle rehabilitation centres, after being found stranded and rescued from various locations around the Maldives. Most have been entangled in ghost nets (discarded fishing gear) that have drifted into Maldivian waters from overseas, and some are suffering from severe injuries and amputated flippers.
Shakti in recovery
Attaching the satellite tracking tag
Successful release back into the ocean
Sea Turtle Nest Protection
On 8 June, a Green turtle nest was discovered on the beach at Villa 223. A cage was placed over the nest for protection against humans and predators. We visit the site regularly to ensure the cage remains in place and the nest is not being disturbed.
When the hatching day (7 August) gets closer, monitoring will be performed twice daily (at night and in the early morning). We are also monitoring the beach every few days to check for new nests or false crawls.
Green turtle nesting tracks on the beach at Landaa Giraavaru
Sea turtle ‘false crawl’ tracks
We are protecting the nest from human disturbance and predators (crabs, birds)
Maldivian Sea Turtle Identification Program
Turtle photographs are kindly sent to us from members of the public, fellow marine biologists and dive centres stationed at other resorts around the Maldives. Submissions consist of close-up photographs of the turtle facial profile, enabling us to outline the unique pattern of scales (scutes) that act like a human fingerprint.
During June, we received 5 photo-set submissions from the public to our ID project, bringing our current database of uniquely identified Maldivian sea turtles to: 1258 Hawksbills, 217 Greens, 95 Olive Ridleys (in total, with more than 4780 logged sightings).
Spotted a turtle? Share your photos
Green turtle #CM214, from our ID database of Maldivian turtles
Further News & Updates
You might also be interested in our Dolphin ID Project, and our Sea Turtle Enclosure out in the lagoon at Landaa.
Looking for details of our coral propagation programme ?
Head over to our Reefscapers 2020 Diary for all the latest updates.
You can see how your sponsored frame grows by viewing our photo updates every 6 months, as part of our unique Coral Frame Collection.
Photos: (1) Reefscapers coral frames at Kuda Huraa water villas.
(2) Junior Marine Savers learn the importance of corals.
