WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
maintenance of land area, food, export earnings and foreign
currency from tourism revenues. The Maldivian people
have been estimated to have among the highest levels of per
capita fish consumption of any nation, at 160 kilos per
Maldives
General Data
Population (thousands)
301
GDP (million US$1
215
Land area (km^l
210
Marine area (thousand km^j
996
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
160
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
11
Recorded coral diseases
1
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^l
8 920
Coral diversity
212/244
Mangrove area (km'j
na
No. of mangrove species
9
No. of seagrass species
1
25 km
person per year The majority of this consumption is of tuna
and other pelagic species, while the majority of export
fisheries are also centered on tuna. Some reef fish are taken
for local consumption, but the most important reef fishery
is the capture of live bait for the offshore tuna fishery. Fish
exports for the live fish markets of East and Southeast Asia
have also been significant through the late 1 990s, and this
is having an impact on grouper stocks.
Land reclamation has occurred on a number of reefs,
while others have been severely impacted by coral mining.
Given the geography of this coral reef nation, this latter
activity has traditionally been the only means of acquiring
natural building material. In the early 1990s it was estimated that between 200 000 and a million cubic meters
were mined annually Mining is now restricted to a few
specified reef areas. The first legally gazetted protected
areas were designated in 1995 as "protected dive sites";
more sites were established in 1999.
Tourism is restricted to particular resort islands (88 in
1999), which are usually distinct from the local population
centers. In 1998 there were almost 400 000 visitors, and
diving and snorkelling were a major attraction for almost
all. The islands benefit from a relatively stable climate all
year round, as well as easily accessible reefs with a high
abundance of fish (including many of the larger species
Left: A wide shaltow reef fiat on an atolt perimeter. Rigtit: A broad view of tf\e tigt)t arrangement of atotls in f/ie centrai
Ivlaidives. dearly foliowing two paraliei cfiains ISTS056-i52-160, 19931.
maintenance of land area, food, export earnings and foreign
currency from tourism revenues. The Maldivian people
have been estimated to have among the highest levels of per
capita fish consumption of any nation, at 160 kilos per
Maldives
General Data
Population (thousands)
301
GDP (million US$1
215
Land area (km^l
210
Marine area (thousand km^j
996
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
160
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
11
Recorded coral diseases
1
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^l
8 920
Coral diversity
212/244
Mangrove area (km'j
na
No. of mangrove species
9
No. of seagrass species
1
25 km
person per year The majority of this consumption is of tuna
and other pelagic species, while the majority of export
fisheries are also centered on tuna. Some reef fish are taken
for local consumption, but the most important reef fishery
is the capture of live bait for the offshore tuna fishery. Fish
exports for the live fish markets of East and Southeast Asia
have also been significant through the late 1 990s, and this
is having an impact on grouper stocks.
Land reclamation has occurred on a number of reefs,
while others have been severely impacted by coral mining.
Given the geography of this coral reef nation, this latter
activity has traditionally been the only means of acquiring
natural building material. In the early 1990s it was estimated that between 200 000 and a million cubic meters
were mined annually Mining is now restricted to a few
specified reef areas. The first legally gazetted protected
areas were designated in 1995 as "protected dive sites";
more sites were established in 1999.
Tourism is restricted to particular resort islands (88 in
1999), which are usually distinct from the local population
centers. In 1998 there were almost 400 000 visitors, and
diving and snorkelling were a major attraction for almost
all. The islands benefit from a relatively stable climate all
year round, as well as easily accessible reefs with a high
abundance of fish (including many of the larger species
Left: A wide shaltow reef fiat on an atolt perimeter. Rigtit: A broad view of tf\e tigt)t arrangement of atotls in f/ie centrai
Ivlaidives. dearly foliowing two paraliei cfiains ISTS056-i52-160, 19931.