GIANT PAVONA
A giant Pavona sp. was identified on 24th of March 2023 in the lagoon of Nilandhoo in Faafu Atoll by the MaRHE Center Team.
The colony measures 4m in height and 50m in circumference and sits at a depth of 9.5m. The conditions of the colony appeared good with over 51-75% of it being alive.
Despite the low visibility, shallow inner lagoons seem very suitable habitats for locating Giant colonies.
📢 NEW MONUMENTAL CORAL
A new very healthy giant colony of Porites cf. lobata, 22 meters in circumference, and 7 meters wide has been reported from the North of Faafu Atoll, Maldives. Sitting at a depth of 7.5 m, it was found on the 8th of April 2024 by team members of MaRHE Center.
Given the slow growth rates of this species, it can be hundreds years old. Considering its optimal health conditions, we strongly believe there can be even bigger colonies in the Maldives. We really look forward to many more reports!
Whilst exploring Faafu Atoll, the MaRHE Center team landed on an uninhabited island and came across this huge Heliopora coerulea. Athough Blue Coral are actually Octocorals, they are nonetheless reef-building organisms, largely contributing to the foundation of this ecosystem. Measuring 9m in length is separated by less than a mt from a second 7m long Heliopora. Were they previously a single huge GIANT? This is one of the questions our future studies would like to solve.
This research is being conducted under the permit NRP2023/79 by Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and by EPA permit PA/2023/PAR-1