Early in the morning, before most guests reach the lagoon, Jess Butler is already in the water near Noku Maldives’ house reef. The Atoll Marine Conservation Centre (AMCC) marine biologist, based at the resort, checks coral fragments secured to metal frames and watches how marine life is using the structures.
“In the first year, it’s really about survival and overall health,” Butler says. “If the fragments establish and you start to see fish using the frames, that tells us the structure is doing its job.”
The coral propagation programme, launched in January, is built around what Butler calls “fragments of opportunity” – pieces of coral that have naturally broken off during storms or through animal activity. Rather than removing healthy colonies, the fragments are secured to frames placed in areas where live coral cover is lower, with the aim of helping bridge gaps across sections of reef.
“Coral grows very slowly,” she says. “You’re not looking for dramatic change in a few months. You’re looking for signs the fragments are stable and supporting the surrounding reef life..”
Beyond the reef, in the shallow lagoon, Butler’s monitoring work focuses on one of the island’s most distinctive habitats: seagrass. She has begun surveying sites on either side of the island, recording species composition, blade height, algae levels and coverage using quadrats and transects.
“Seagrass is often misunderstood,” Butler says. “Most guests think it’s seaweed, but it’s actually a flowering plant, and it plays a huge role in the ecosystem.”
Seagrass is a primary food source for green turtles and a nursery habitat for juvenile fish. It also helps stabilise sediment and reduce beach erosion, a critical function in a low-lying country, with its highest natural point just a few metres above sea level.. “It’s a massive carbon sink,” Butler adds. “It can absorb carbon dioxide 35 times faster than rainforests.”
The condition of the seagrass is closely linked to another strand of her work: identifying and tracking sea turtles. Both green turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles are regularly seen around the island. Individuals can be recognised by the unique pattern of scales on their faces, which Butler photographs and uploads to The Olive Ridley Project database.
“It’s like a fingerprint,” she says. “Once you’ve photographed both sides of the face and the top of the head, you can tell if it’s a turtle that’s been recorded before, and you can start to build a picture of where it’s been seen and how it moves between islands.”
Butler says the work is still at an early stage. “The programme is still in its early stages, having launched alongside Noku Maldives’ introduction as a Vignette Collection resort under IHG, so the focus is on establishing a baseline.” she says. “The longer the monitoring continues, the more meaningful the patterns become.”
Guest awareness forms an important part of the programme. Butler regularly joins snorkelling and diving excursions to explain what lives on the reef and how easily it can be damaged
“One of the biggest issues is people standing on coral when they feel unsteady,” she says. “It only takes a moment, but the damage can last for years. We try to show guests how to be aware of where they are and how to observe without touching.”
Training sessions for staff are also being planned, covering how to respond if turtle nesting activity is found and the dos and don’ts of in-water conduct around marine life. Butler is also recording sightings of manta rays and other megafauna, and will share these records with regional research organisations, including The Manta Trust.
Looking ahead, Butler hopes the programmes will evolve in ways that keep guests connected to the science. “Ideas like coral or turtle adoption are a way of showing people what happens after they leave,” she says. “They can see how a fragment grows or where a turtle is re-sighted, and that the work extends well beyond a single visit.”
For Noku Maldives, this work centres on sustained field monitoring and the gradual build-up of site-specific data on reef and lagoon health.
“Our aim is to base our conservation efforts on proper fieldwork and consistent data, not just good intentions,” says Hussain Shahid, General Manager of Noku Maldives. “By supporting reef restoration, seagrass research and turtle monitoring, and by involving our guests and team in that process, we are working to protect the natural environment that defines this island.”
