| Abstract: | This report addresses the environmental concerns of the proposed mariculture project for the
farming of sea cucumber in the lagoon of Boduhaikondi, Raa Atoll. Sea cucumber juveniles
and grouper fingerlings will be bought from local hatcheries such as the sea cucumber
hatchery at Nalandhoo until the proposed hatchery has been established. Sea cucumber
juveniles (over four months old) will be put in the lagoon to grow out in its natural habitat to
the adult size. The sea cucumber will grow to adult size in a year. The Project is proposed by
Ali Ahroosh Ibrahim, M. Meadows.
Boduhaiykondi is a small island towards the middle of Raa Atoll close to Dhuvaafaru. It has
been leased for agricultural/fishery purposes by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.
With the potential for mariculture with a sizeable lagoon with a small deep lagoon, acting as
a natural habitat for sea cucumber, the proposed aquaculture or mariculture project has been
considered as a potential investment. Sea cucumber production using fingerlings from
Nalandhoo will form the initial component of the proposed project. A hatchery will be later
established on the island for improved productivity.
Sea cucumbers will be fed with food that will be imported to some extent but locally
available seagrass and other food sources will be given priority. Sea cumber will be at the
right size in 9 to 10 months following which they will be harvested, processed, packed and
exported. A processing facility will be established on site.
In addition to staff accommodation, power house, fuel storage, water supply and sewerage,
telecommunication services, jetty and channel, the following investments directly targeted at
sea cucumber production will be established.
Sea cage fish farm in the lagoon
Sea cucumber boiling and processing facility
Ice making facility
Storage facility for processed sea cucumbers
Environmental concerns from the proposed project include:
Sedimentation of some degree during channel dredging and jetty installation. The
channel being about 3m on average, it will require only the removal of rock outcrops
in the channel. Therefore, impact will be small.
The impact of disease transmissions on wild populations. This impact is considered to
be minor negative and depends on stocking densities and feeding. Environmental
controls shall be established from the very onset of the project to mitigate disease
prevalence and ensure a healthy environment.
The impact cages may have on wild fish populations. Although this impact is not
considered to be significant, this impact has to be studied in detail during the
implementation stage.
The genetic or competitive effect escapees may have on wild stock. Since juveniles
that are not able to escape are used and exotic species would not be imported, this
impact is unlikely to occur.
In the case of cage culture using locally found species, genetic pollution will not be a
concern even in case of escapees and new diseases will not be introduced to the wild
stock. However, an incubation of local diseases present in the wild stock may be a
potential cause for concern in case of high stocking densities. Therefore, stocking
densities shall be kept to an optimum at all times. The likelihood for habitat
modification could occur in case of imported broodstock causing stress and related
disease prevalence. However, this is a minor impact not considered to be significant.
The proposed project is expected to be managed in conformity with local and international
regulations and standards of relevance, especially environmental regulations and standards.
Therefore, environmental impacts will be well managed, minimized and mitigated. The
overall environmental impacts of the project have been assessed using appropriate matrices
and the results indicated that the proposed project had net positive impact. That is, the project
has no major adverse impacts on the environment as far as current knowledge is concerned.
Given that the project has moderate level of socio-economic benefits and possible
environmental benefits, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed as proposed.
However, due to the project being among a few of its kind in the country, it is important to
consider uncertainties and continue to monitor the project impacts and undertake appropriate
mitigation measures in consultation with the EPA and other relevant government agencies. |
