Environmental impact assessment proposed harbour development in Magoodhoo Island, Noonu Atoll

Abstract

Ministry of Housing and Environment (MHE) proposes to develop a harbour in Magoodhoo Island, Noonu Atoll. The proposed harbour will be developed on the northern side of the island having a basin length of 92m and a width of 42.74m with -3m deep from MSL. The proposed harbour will have an entrance of 75m long, 27.42m wide and 3m deep as well as an inner quay wall of 143.02m on the southern part of the harbour and a 98.56m long rock boulder breakwater on the northern part. This EIA is prepared in accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR) approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 20 November 2011. The main scope of this EIA report as per the approved TOR is to broadly assess, identify, predict and document potential environmental impacts from the proposed harbour development project in Magoodhoo Island, Noonu Atoll. The proposed harbour development project is to be carried out in Magoodhoo Island situated in Noonu Atoll, which is located in north of Maldives, approximately 179km away from the capital city - Male’. The nearest inhabited island in the vicinity of Magoodhoo is Miladhoo which is at a distance of about 2km, located directly north of Magoodhoo. The capital island of Noonu Atoll – Manadhoo is located to south east of Magoodhoo at a distance of about 6km. Geographic coordinates of Magoodhoo are 05º46’35” N and 73º2’45” E. The proposed harbour will be located at the northern side of the island, north east to the existing channel or reef entrance. The proposed harbour development project in N. Magoodhoo will be subject to the laws in particular Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (No. 4/93) of Maldives. Thus, it must satisfy the EIA process and get approval before the project starts implementation. Baseline environmental condition of the island was conducted for which the environmental impacts and mitigation measures as well as project alternatives are presented. Generally the reef condition around Magoodhoo can be regarded as below average. This is attributed to sedimentation on the northern side of the island, sand cover on the north-western side of the island, dead coral rock formations on the southern side of the island as well as the extensive dead substrate layer on the eastern side of the island. The total area of the proposed harbour basin is 4,000m2 having a total length of 92m and a width of 42.74m. The impacts that are associated with the proposed harbour are divided into construction phase and operation phase environmental impacts. Most of the construction phase environmental impacts are believed to occur from excavation, backfilling, construction of quay walls, and construction of rock boulder breakwaters. The main environmental impacts associated with the proposed harbour development include sedimentation, direct damage to coral reef habitats, seawater quality deterioration, changes in the oceanographic and hydrodynamic conditions around the island that may lead to changes in coastal morphology. As part of the proposed development, a number of mitigation measures will be taken into consideration including using physical barriers to reduce the impacts of sedimentation, using appropriate dredging methods, as well as carefully planning the implementation activities of the project. Also, mitigation of environmental impacts during operation phase of the proposed development has been considered. The proposed harbour will be developed for the community in Magoodhoo Island. The harbour is located in close proximity to the existing and planned developments found in the area as most of the settlements are currently found on the northern parts of the island and the southern parts are used for agriculture. Having considered the needs of the community as well most viable location is found on the northern side of the island. A no development alternative has also been given. The overall environmental performance will be monitored by an environmental monitoring framework that will be implemented as part of the proposed harbour development on Magoodhoo Island, Noonu Atoll.