Save Our Waves Maldives
The Save The Waves Coalition is an international nonprofit dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems across the globe.
Working on an international scale with organisations and individuals at a grassroots level, STW is enabling local surf breaks to be protected by the communities that cherish them the most.
An alarming trend has been developing in the Maldives in recent years: many of the country’s pristine surf ecosystems have been affected or outright destroyed by rapid coastal development projects aimed at protecting private development interests.
Save The Waves is supporting local surfers, as well as an international team, to ensure that the Maldivian Government protect their wave resources and prevent private interests from destroying surf ecosystems.
Chickens, one of the best and most accessible waves in the Maldives, has been significantly altered due to the construction of a seawall on the island. In addition, many other waves are faced with similar infrastructure projects; these will damage the wave, reef ecosystem, and communities that depend on the Ocean.
The Government of Maldives and Blue Prosperity Coalition is committed to adopting a legally binding Marine Spatial Plan including designating at least 20% of the Maldives’ waters as fully protected marine areas. Additionally, the Government of Maldives signed on to the Clean Oceans Alliance earlier this year to protect 30% of global oceans by 2030.
Partnered with Save Our Waves Maldives, STW is calling on the government to ensure that surf ecosystems are protected as part of the Marine Spatial Planning process and that waves around the country are recognized for the biological, cultural, economic, and recreational value.
Trent Hodges, Conservation Programs Manager for Save The Waves
“The Maldives contain a treasure trove of surf ecosystems that have incredible biological, social and economic value, yet have not been protected from rampant coastal development - not to mention the long-term impacts from climate change.
The government has an obligation and opportunity to protect these resources that provide measurable benefits for local communities and economies.”
The most important action anyone can take for the protection of the Maldives waves is to sign the petition. This will help ensure the Maldivian Government and its agencies prioritize the conservation of wave resources in development projects and also proactively protect intact surf ecosystems.
Surf Photography // Matt Porteous Maldives 2016