| Abstract: | This environmental impact assessment (EIA) report highlights the findings of the EIA carried out
for the proposed sea cucumber Project in L. Gan, Maldives. Since aquaculture projects are listed
under Schedule D of the EIA regulations warranting to conduct an environmental impact
assessment prior to the undertaking of the project, the EIA was prepared as a fulfilment of this
mandatory requirement under the EIA Regulations 2012 of the Maldives and to obtain
environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency of the Maldives.
The report was prepared according to a Terms of Reference (TOR) agreed between the EPA and
the project proponent. All issues identified in the ToR have been carefully considered in the
relevant chapters of this report.
EIA was conducted by consultants from the consultancy firm – MEECO.
The Proponent of the project is S.S. Farming Pvt. Ltd. which is owned and operated as a local
investment and as such registered with the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Maldives in 2015.
The proposed investment for the project is MVR 8 million which will go towards developing all
relevant facilities necessary for breeding, rearing of juveniles, growing and processing of sea
cucumber to produce bêche de mer for the international market.
This assessment confirms that the project has been planned and executed to adhere with the
relevant laws, regulations, guidelines and is in accordance with government policies and
development plans.
The project has been planned to be undertaken in L. Gan which is the largest and longest natural
island in the Maldives. An area measuring 30,000 ft2 from land and 526,350 ft2 from the lagoon
on the southeast coastal area of the island has been allocated and leased to the developer for the
project. The intended species for aquaculture is Holothuria scabra which is the only sea cucumberspecies that is commercially cultured in the Maldives. This species is widely cultured in severalAsia Pacific countries and is known to be among the most popular in aquaculture industry. It isnow believed that the threatened status of H. scabra in the wild was mainly due to the overexploitation of the species to cater for the high demand created. Hence the only alternative
available to maintain the market need is to culture and grow the species to a marketable size. H.
scabra is not believed to be native to the Maldives although since its first introduction into the
Maldives it is now believed that it has naturalised and well adapted to the local environment.
Key project activities involved in the proposed sea cucumber Project are site clearance,
construction of hatchery units, larval rearing units, wastewater collection and treatment system,
sea water intake, wastewater discharge pumping station, grow out cages, processing (gutting,
cooking and drying) and packing of processed sea cucumber. The facility will have the initial
capacity to produce 100,000 H. scabra seeds and up to 12 tons of processed bêche de mer per year.
Assessment of the baseline conditions of the site revealed that the proposed site for the project
possesses conditions that are very suitable for the aquaculture of sea cucumbers. Although due to
the isolated nature of the site and due lack of any proper waste management in place on the island
waste littering had taken place at the site to a noticeable degree. As a consequence, the DO levels
in certain near shore locations were found to be well below the required level requiring site
rehabilitation as a priority activity before the actual project related works commence. The
assessment also found no unique feature associated with the location nor does it contain any rare
or endangered or protected species. There was no indication that the project activities affecting the
way of life of the community in a negative manner as a result of the project.
Stakeholder consultation constituted an important aspect of this study. All relevant stakeholders
including representatives of the community were consulted and their views considered in the
preparing the report. The community and the stakeholders consulted were in support of the project
and highlighted the socio – economic benefits that the project would bring to the people of L. Gan.
The impacts assessment identified land clearance for development of the land based facilities,
operation of the hatchery and nursery, stocking of sea cucumbers in the grow out area and
processing of sea cucumbers as the activities that would have most significant impacts on the
environment.
In the worst case scenario, the project would result in habitat alteration covering an area of 30,000
ft2 on land which is just 0.1 % in relation to the landmass area of the island. Land clearance for
buildings would result in loss of mature trees and coconut palms. Mitigations measures to avoid
or reduce the number of trees requiring removal will be explored and for those trees which requires
absolute removal will be compensated for by planting two trees for each coconut tree removed.
Wastewater from hatchery including those produced from producing feed for the larvae are
expected to contain pollutants that may in the long run affect the environmental quality of the
lagoon as a result wastewater from hatchery has been proposed to be treated and discharged out of
the reef.
Stocking of sea cucumbers in grow out area in the lagoon has been found to be an activity that can
potentially affect the habitat including changes to the microflora composition and physical
characteristics of the bottom substrate. As a result, measures such as controlling stocking density
and instead of repeated use of the same area allowing areas that that have been used for grow out
to fellow has been recommended. In addition, use of artificial feed in the lagoon has been
recommended to be avoided.
Sea cucumber gutting and cleaning will generate waste that would contain high level of holothurin
which is a known toxic compound for fish and other marine organisms, such wastes if dumped
into the marine environment can be deleterious to fish and other organisms and therefore have
been proposed to be avoided. Hence burying it in the ground has been recommended as a
mitigation measure. Similarly, wastewater generated from boiling sea cumbers will also contain
holothurin. Therefore, wastewater produced from processing of the sea cucumbers has been
recommended to be diluted and treated and dumped through the discharge pipe outside the reef
slope. Smoking and boiling of sea cucumbers will require significant volume of fuel wood which
can lead to deforestation and habitat degradation. Therefore, in order to avoid such impacts
alternative fuel has been recommended for boiling sea cucumbers while coconut husk, driftwood,
and firewood obtained from trees cut down for other projects legally has been suggested to be
utilised for smoking of sea cucumbers.
The assessment found no evidence of any significant negative impact on the society and culture as
a result of the project, whereas, in terms of employment generated, technology transfer, alternative
livelihood opportunities expected from project will have significant positive socio – economic
impacts.
The study also explored in detail the alternatives available for project related activities in terms of
locations, technologies and processes. Through this exercise best practical environmental option
has been determined and proposed in the report as an effective way to minimise environmental
impacts and enhance positive impact of the project.
A detailed environmental monitoring program has been proposed in the report with a view to
recognise the actual impacts of the project, to ensure environmental compliance and to assist the
proponent to take necessary mitigation measures in the event of unexpected impacts. The
proponent has shown full commitment to undertake the proposed monitoring plan.
In conclusion., the EIA revealed that the project will not result in loss of critical habitat or species
or degradation of a habitat that has high ecological value nor does it involve forced re-settlement
of inhabitants, loss of historical or cultural heritage and intervention into regular way of life of the
people and that the predicted impacts are expected to be mitigated and residual impacts could be
kept within generally acceptable levels. It has also been determined that the project is being
undertaken in state-owned land with no encroachment into private land involved. Based on the
findings, the EIA concludes that the project should be allowed to proceed with the proposed
mitigation and enhancement measures during the construction and operational phases of the
project as the benefits of the project far outweigh its imposition on the environment and the people. |
