By Sarah Allison
The Ocean Country Partnership Programme is a bilateral technical assistance and capacity building programme that provides tailored support to countries to manage the marine environment more sustainably, including by strengthening marine science expertise, developing science-based policy and management tools and creating educational resources for coastal communities. The OCPP delivers work under three thematic areas: biodiversity, marine pollution, and sustainable seafood. Funding is provided through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) overarching Blue Planet Fund (BPF) by the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivered collaboratively by the Centre of Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).
Members of the Women's Development Council attending the launch of the Hanifaru MPA Conservation Action Plan
In February, representatives from the MMO participated in a cross-ALB deployment to the Maldives, working in collaboration with colleagues from the JNCC and Cefas under the OCPP.
The mission aimed to strengthen national marine conservation frameworks and support sustainable ocean governance through collaboration with key national and regional stakeholders. This included finalising critical policy tools—such as the National Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Marine Protected Areas—and launching the Hanifaru Conservation Action Plan within the globally significant Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The deployment helped to build stronger partnerships across government agencies, research institutions, conservation organisations, and local communities. Notably, it enhanced stakeholder engagement, promoted sustainable marine tourism, and advanced data-sharing initiatives that are vital to the adaptive management of reef manta ray and whale shark populations. The active participation of local groups, particularly women’s networks, highlighted the importance of inclusive, community-led conservation approaches that promote both ecological and economic resilience in the Maldives.
Strengthening National Engagement in MPA Governance
Biosphere Reserve Ranger undertaking photo identification surveys of reef manta rays in Hanifaru Bay—mantas can be identified by their unique markings, as individual as fingerprints.
In Malé, the capital, the team worked closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to finalise the National Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This document forms part of a broader suite of policy tools developed through OCPP, which also includes the Maldives National Framework for the Management of Protected and Conserved Areas, and the National Management Plan Guidance for Protected and Conserved Areas.
The stakeholder engagement plan is a vital step toward ensuring inclusive, transparent, and effective participation in the designation and management of MPAs and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) across the Maldives.
Launching the Hanifaru Conservation Action Plan in Baa Atoll
Biosphere Reserve Office staff with Sarah Allison (MMO) and Stefan Bolam (Cefas) at the launch of the Hanifaru MPA Conservation Action Plan developed through OCPP
The next phase of the deployment took the team northwest to Baa Atoll to collaborate with the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve team on the launch of the Hanifaru Conservation Action Plan. Hanifaru Bay, located within the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, is internationally recognised for its seasonal aggregations of whale sharks and manta rays. From May to November each year, an upwelling of nutrient-rich waters—linked to the South West Monsoon—drives a plankton bloom that attracts hundreds of reef mantas and occasional whale sharks to the bay for feeding.
The Hanifaru Conservation Action Plan is a tailored management strategy developed with local stakeholders to enhance the protection and sustainable use of Hanifaru Bay. It outlines key conservation measures aimed at safeguarding these iconic species while ensuring marine tourism remains responsible and sustainable. The plan focuses on visitor management, strengthening research partnerships, improving site monitoring, and reinforcing compliance with site regulations.
A key goal of the deployment was to improve collaboration between the Biosphere Reserve Office and local conservation organisations such as the Manta Trust and the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme. These organisations play a vital role in monitoring and data collection efforts, which underpin the plan’s adaptive management approach.
The Hanifaru Conservation Action Plan was formally launched in Eydhafushi, where the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve team presented the plan to the President of the Atoll Council. The launch brought together representatives from key conservation bodies, as well as members of the Women’s Network, who were attending a concurrent workshop on economic empowerment through sustainable tourism. Their involvement underscored the central role that local communities—particularly women—play in shaping the future of marine conservation and eco-tourism in the Maldives.
Looking Ahead
This deployment marked a significant step forward in advancing marine conservation in the Maldives. By strengthening national frameworks, supporting local leadership, and fostering inclusive partnerships, the Ocean Country Partnership Programme is helping to secure a sustainable future for the Maldives’ marine biodiversity and the communities that depend on it.