Index, 1. Introduction, 2. Angaga Island, 3. Reef Check Sites, 4. Biological Data & Results, 5. Public Relations, 6. Suggestions, 7. Acknowledgements

 
 

6. Suggestions

 

6.1 Management of the Island


Before closing, we would like to touch several topics for further discussion concerning the resort management as well as outline a couple of suggestions towards a sustainable management of the tourist resort on Angaga.
 

Water Supply
The fresh water supply is a demanding task on Angaga, as on most Maldivian islands. On Angaga, fresh water supply is covered through four different resources:

  1. Imported bottled mineral water

    2. Bottles are sold to guests for 3 US$ per liter (!).
  2. Rainwater tanks

    3. Drinking water, thermos flasks in bungalows are refilled daily.
  3. Desalinated sea water

    4. Mainly used for lavatories and showers but is suitable for drinking as well with some proviso.
  4. Groundwater
The guests are hardly encouraged to keep the use of fresh water down to the necessary minimum. Informational notes on the fresh water situation are missing. On Angaga, there is a large potential to reduce water usage. For instance, even in this tropical climate it does not seem necessary to exchange linens, towels, table cloths and napkins every day. With appropriate information, the guests might choose the time to change linens and towels by their own.
 

Wastewater Disposal
Angaga has no sewage treatment. The wastewater is collected in deposition pits which are periodically emptied and dumped in deeper waters (approx. 10m). In case of an overflow, there are four sewage pipes ending just outside the housereef in only 5m depth. It is planned to move the pipe endings to a depth of 20-25m. However, the time schedule for its realization remains uncertain. The shallow depth of the sewage pipes raises various questions concerning hygiene, especially since this part of the housereef is visited most often by snorkeling people and scuba divers.
 

As with the drinking water, informational notes should make guests aware of the fragile ecosystem of coral reefs encouraging e.g. to keep the use of soap etc. down to a minimum.

Garbage Disposal
Tins and cans are collected and shipped to Male island. According to governmental law combustible material must be burned in a high temperature oven. Even though such a device exists on Angaga, the power supply does not yet allow to run it. According to the law this results in a monthly fine of around 50 US$. Currently, garbage is burned in open fires mainly in the evenings. This leads to molestations of the guests through the unpleasant smells. Kitchen waste is dumped in deeper waters. Early in the morning, jetsam is found on the beach depending on the sea conditions. Later in the morning the beach is cleaned by the staff.

With exemplary character, all travellers of our flight were advised to collect plastic garbage, not to dump it on the Maldives and to carry it back home. It would be nice, if the airlines distributed garbage bags before landing and re-collect them before departing.

Mosquitoes & Flies
On Angaga, there would be lots of mosquitoes and flies but the management gets rid of them by spraying the entire island with petroleum once a week. This is indeed a very questionable procedure, since it not only pollutes soil and water but also kills animals such as spiders that feed on insects. On such occasions, there is no place to avoid the fumes and guests are advised to turn off their air condition in order to keep the smell outside.

This problem is tricky to solve. Certainly it is not the management to be blamed for but rather the tourists visiting countries such as the Maldives because of sun, sand and water and at the same time unwilling to accept any restrictions concerning their personal luxury.

6.2 Reef Check Organization


We have one important thing to criticize adversely concerning the Reef Check organization Switzerland: information politics in all its variants. Many elementary steps were disregarded concerning the timing and distribution of information leading to chaotic situations disatisfying all people involved. The following list outlines some nuisances we had to deal with prior, during and after our survey on Angaga:

  1. Two days prior to departure we learned what island we will be on carrying out our survey!
  2. On the day of departure we were informed that the food is not covered and that we have to negociate with the management of the resorts individually.
  3. The dive base was not informed at all. They did not even know that a Reef Check `98 is going to take place. The only information they got was a fax sent by C. Roden, two days prior to our arrival. The leader of the dive base was deeply irritated because of the short announcement. It is not his responsibility alone to decide whether and by what means the organization of the dive base supports such a survey.
  4. The day before departing from Angaga, we learned that the costs of US$ 180 for the transfer by boat in order to catch the air taxi to and from Hulule airport were not covered.
  5. We, C. Roden and C. Hauert, were never informed about or invited to any post-survey meetings.
The main problem in all this is that the acceptance of the Reef Check project vanishes rapidly when displaying such an attitude towards the people and countries that are responsible for the management and protection of the reefs. In order to continue the Reef Check surveys for many years, we hope that the responsible people in Switzerland learn from their omissions.

In conclusion, regardless of those unpleasant incidents, it was a rich and rewarding experience for all of us to take part in the Reef Check 1998.