{"id":37182,"date":"2025-05-15T12:05:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T10:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riu.com\/blog\/?p=37182"},"modified":"2026-04-17T08:59:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T06:59:28","slug":"how-to-protect-whale-sharks-in-the-maldives-mwsrp-riu-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riu.com\/blog\/en\/how-to-protect-whale-sharks-in-the-maldives-mwsrp-riu-project\/","title":{"rendered":"How does RIU Hotels protect the whale shark in the Maldives alongside MWSRP?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Through its Proudly Committed<\/a><\/strong> sustainability strategy, RIU Hotels<\/strong> has partnered with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP)<\/a><\/strong> to protect the world’s largest fish. This collaboration, known as Connecting Constellations<\/strong>, combines long-term scientific research, advanced technology, and community education programs to ensure the conservation of the whale shark<\/strong> in the Maldivian<\/strong> atolls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A project born from a love for the ocean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MWSRP<\/strong> was founded in 2006 with the goal of closing the knowledge gap regarding whale sharks in Maldivian waters. Although the species has been legally protected since 1995, this program is the only long-term research project studying their habits and movements to make informed conservation decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At RIU<\/strong>, we have joined this cause because we understand that you cannot conserve what you do not understand. This alliance seeks to generate a real positive impact<\/strong> on marine biodiversity and the local communities that depend on the health of the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Education to transform the relationship with the sea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the fundamental pillars we support from RIU<\/strong> is the educational program “Moodhu Kudhin” (Children of the Sea)<\/strong>. This project moves marine science from textbooks to direct practice on beaches and reefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact of the educational program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n