The Story of Fuvahmulah

Have you ever felt so compelled to help protect something that all of a sudden everything else falls quickly into your peripheral vision and this particular calling takes all priority? 

Earlier this month, OCL storyteller Jono Allen asked us to support him on an important storytelling journey which would eventually lead to setting up a local initiative with Lonu in order to help protect the local community and marine site on the island of FVM. 

The small island of Fuvahmulah hasn’t typically been a popular holiday destination for tourists, but the recognition of a healthy shark population and marine life has meant the island has had an increased amount of attention. 

But like a lot of growth, there’s the opportunity to do it the right way, the way this gem of an island deserves.  

Whilst work has to be done on the ground in order to implement and manage a sustainable growth development policy, this can often take years to facilitate with many different stakeholders involved. The predicted rate of growth is alarming in comparison to the island's long term plan.

Tourism on a large scale has been shown to increase pollution and be generally detrimental to the local natural environment. To support the presence of large numbers of people, roads and guest houses need to be built to enable the transportation and accommodation of tourists. This development can be seen as positive for urban development; however, it is often done at the expense of natural habitats such as the ocean.

A short term solution that can help educate and inform those choosing to experience the diverse marine life FVM is a short film documentary showcasing the fragility and beauty of this southern atoll.  

We've witnessed how saturation and over-capacity can result in physical stress on the infrastructure and on natural, cultural and heritage assets when growth and greed takes priority over the environment.  We only need to look at Borocay in the Philippines and Maya Bay in Thailand where some ecosystems have reached their breaking point and governments have had to close entire islands in order to allow habitats and species to rehabilitate. 

Closures serve as a prime example of what can happen to beautiful destinations if tourism remains unsustainable and unregulated, but we can work towards a framework that allows cultural and environmental preservation, whilst educating visitors on how to act respectfully without damaging ecosystems. 

Over the past year, we have learnt the power of unity and collaboration, and we know our ocean community has the power to play a huge role in helping to protect, restore and celebrate our oceans - we simply need to work together. 

We'd like to say a big thank you to those of you who have already played an active role in working to implement a realistic and manageable pathway to ensure the conscious continuation of ecological balance in Fuvahmulah. The power of positive change really does lie in the hands of community and collaboration. 

We look forward to sharing this story of Fuvahmulah with you all, but for now, here's a few shots of just some of the beauty that can be found on the incredible island. 

Photography // Matt Porteous & Jono Allen