Keeping paradise pristine

On my second day in Malé, I was taking a walk in the city. Around the jetty, I saw lots of plastic bottles and packets floating amidst the clear turquoise waters. My alarm only increased as I visited other islands. Most of the inhabited islands stood in sad contrast to Maldives’ world-famous resorts. Along their white sandy shores, and around their little lanes, were heaps of garbage; piles of plastic bottles, nappies, tin cans, food packaging… you name it.

As someone who is very fond the ocean, I am most disturbed by marine litter and the impact it is having on the ocean’s ecosystems. Just the other day, I read via the Olive Ridley Project, about a huge, discarded fishing net entangling several sea turtles. While being a photogenic and iconic species admired by divers, sea turtles also play an important role in our environment. They help in sustaining beach vegetation by transporting essential nutrients from the oceans to beaches and the coastal dunes. Turtles are among the natural actors that can help prevent issues such as beach erosion – a severe problem faced by the small islands of the Maldives. An increase in garbage is not only tainting this pristine beauty, but is also compromising an already fragile natural environment.