During August, MUI presented at the 4th Maldives Marine Science Symposium. Rhiannon, a PhD student from the University of Exeter, began collecting data to investigate coral larval settlement and reef replenishment. Deep Blue Divers and the Manta Trust started Fushi Fridays, to conduct ‘Eyes on the reef’ timelapse camera deployments. Blue Marine Foundation recruited 9 new local fishers and started grouper spawning surveys. The Olive Ridley Project excavated 3 nests with a permit from the EPA and identified 5 new turtles. In the community, the MUI team hosted the second Eku Eky Meeting of 2022 and donated medical equipment to the Hithadhoo health center. The Earth Lab was delighted to welcome a new intern Laisha. Finally on August 30th, the team celebrated International Whale Shark Day and named a whale shark sighted in Laamu ‘Nala Dhun Thari’ meaning beautiful shooting star in Dhivehi.
