The 1,190 Maldivian islands total only 1% of the nation’s territory, making the ocean its most abundant and important resource. Understanding the ocean environment is difficult enough close to shore, but many of these unique islands, atolls, and environments are remote and hard to reach, let alone study. That’s why Noo Raajje, a collaboration between the Government of Maldives and the Blue Prosperity Coalition, decided to conduct a scientific expedition to explore and study the country’s ocean and coral reefs.

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A team from the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Scripps Institution of Oceanography 100 Island Challenge, and the Waitt Institute set sail on a 22-day scientific voyage, making stops at north and south Male' atolls before proceeding to the south of the country.

 

The first expedition, conducted in January 2020, surveyed 16 atolls, primarily in the central and northern parts of the Maldives. This second expedition was completed to form the first ever nation-wide, comprehensive assessment of the 26 Maldivian atolls.

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This expedition was conducted under strict COVID-19 protocol to keep the scientists and surrounding local communities safe.