Reef restoration in the Maldives and Mauritius: RIU’s commitment to the oceans

22 August, 2025 Share

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Did you know that coral reefs cover less than 1% of the seafloor, but are home to more than 25% of all marine life on the planet? They are actual underwater cities! In addition to beauty, they provide food, coastal protection, and development opportunities for millions of people. But sadly these ecosystems are in danger.

That is why today we are dedicating this RIU Blog post to two very special coral reef protection projects we are collaborating with: Blue Reef Reforest in the Maldives and Coral Garden Conservation, in Mauritius.

Would you like to know how we work with them and learn a bit about how important corals are? Keep reading!

Who are RIU’s partners in marine restoration?

At RIU Hotels & Resorts we believe that tourism can and should generate the greatest possible positive impact. As part of our sustainability strategy, Proudly Committed, we actively support various local biodiversity protection projects in destinations such as the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and, the ones we are talking about today, in the Maldives and Mauritius.

Coral Garden Conservation (Mauritius)

Coral Garden Conservation (CGC) is a Mauritian organisation specialising in science-based, community-focused coral restoration. Starting this year, we have been collaborating with them in the Le Morne area, where we have our hotels, the Riu Palace Mauritius and Riu Turquoise, a UNESCO-protected site due to its ecological and cultural value.

Their goal is to restore degraded reefs using innovative techniques, promote coral genetic diversity and train local communities to become guardians of the sea.

“This partnership with RIU allows us to scale up our interventions, train young people and fishermen, and develop models that can be replicated in other regions of the Indian Ocean”, explains the CGC.

Blue Reef Reforest (Maldives)

Since 2022, we have been collaborating on the Blue Reef Reforest project in the Maldives. This combines science, education and direct action in the area surrounding our Riu Atoll and Riu Palace Maldivas hotels.

The team promotes the recovery of coral areas through marine nurseries, Coral Clip attachment techniques (reusable devices designed to attach coral fragments to the reef substrate), and educational activities involving students, guests and local staff.

“Thanks to RIU’s support, we’ve been able to expand our nurseries, improve monitoring, and take marine science to the community”, says Blue Reef Reforest.

What results have been achieved so far?

In Mauritius, our collaboration with Coral Garden Conservation is very recent, but we have already identified sites where nurseries can be set up in Le Morne. We have also begun collecting baseline data and engaging directly with local young people and fishermen.

“Establishing this collaboration with RIU marks an important milestone for us. Not only do we share a commitment to marine conservation, we are demonstrating how the private sector and civil society can come together to protect vulnerable ecosystems”, explains Coral Garden Conservation.

Since we began working together in 2022, Blue Reef Reforest has increased the number of cultivated coral fragments from 296 to more than 537 and has transplanted 431 of them, restoring 20.4 m² of reef. These are impressive figures!

The importance of the local community

At RIU we believe that projects like these are only effective if they are carried out together with the community. They are the experts and know better than anyone how to care for their land, which is why we always look to partner with local NGOs.

In Le Morne, local fishermen have already been trained as “coral gardeners” and, as soon as the authorities give the go-ahead, they will take part in marine activities:

“Many fishermen have expressed their desire to protect the reef for future generations. For them, this project is not just about conservation, it is about food security, cultural identity and marine heritage” CGC.

In the Maldives, we work with the local school, organising educational snorkelling activities, beach clean-ups and environmental workshops at our hotels: “Students attend presentations about the reefs and then visit the restoration site to snorkel and see the project in action. “We connect theory and experience” Blue Reef Reforest.

How can you help protect coral reefs?

At RIU, we want you to enjoy the natural beauty of destinations like the Maldives and Mauritius to the fullest, but also to play a part in protecting them. We therefore invite you to take a few simple steps that will make a big difference:

• Use coral-friendly sunscreen
• Avoid stepping on or touching the reefs while snorkelling.
• Do not feed the fish
• Do not remove marine life from the environment

“The reef you swim over or admire from the shore is not just a beautiful landscape: it is an ecosystem that needs our respect and protection.”

Coral Garden Conservation

“Each of us has the power to make a difference. Respecting marine life means keeping your distance from the reef, not touching or removing anything, and making sustainable choices every day.”

Blue Reef Reforest