CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR PARTNERING FOR CORAL REEF RESTORATION OF RASFARI REEF UNDER THE RASFARI RESTORATION PROJECT

Overview

The grounding incident of the bulk carrier M/V Navios Amaryllis on Rasfari reef on 19th August 2021 led to substantial damage on the reef structure covering an area of 8867 square meters. The location falls under the protected site of Rasfari Marine Protected Area. Following this incident, The Maldives Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carried out a coral reef damage assessment on 15th September jointly with Sea Byte Inc, with further assessments made by Sea Byte Inc was on 13th and 18th September 2021. 

A study of the affected area was carried out by acquiring both qualitative and quantitative data in the form of a visual assessments via photographic and video footage, and high resolution photographic transect data.  These damages covered an area of 2,882 square meters. To compensate for these damages to the reef ship owners had agreed to fund Maldivian government to restore the damages caused to the reef. This is the first time such a compensation is being paid to restore the coral reefs damaged by ship landing in the Maldives.

To manage this trust fund EPA had already created a fund board and drafted a budget and a restoration plan which had been approved by the trust fund board and finance ministry. Restoration work plan is for designed for five years but major work of the restoration will be conducted within one year. Now at the implementation stage EPA is looking for partners to carry out this important task.

Restoration Trust Fund board has approved a budget and a restoration plan for the period of 5 years and the major work of restoring the reef of Rasfari from the impacts of the ship grounding is to begin within this year. Therefore, EPA likes invite companies, NGO’s, professionals and enthusiasts to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for partnering to carry out this work with EPA.

Who can submit an EOI

Any local or foreign parties, companies, NGO’s or enthusiasts interested in coral reef restoration work or conservation work

Areas where assistance is needed

1. To help build nurseries and to locate areas to source coral fragments
2. To help monitor the nurseries and manage the nurseries
3. To help plant corals grown in the nurseries at the Rasafri reef 
4. To help in replantation of the source fragments a Rasfari reef
5. To help in continuously monitoring of the replanted sites
6. To support in logistics such as transportation
7. Professional assistance related to coral reef restoration and general management of the project

Composition of EOI

1. Letter of Application indicating: contact details (phone, email, website and social media accounts)

2. Details of the individual, firm, company or consortium, including company profile, expertise 

3. Evidence of adequacy of working capacity for this project

Information Session

All interested parties are invited to join an information session which will be held at EPA meeting room, 3^rd floor, Green Building on 30^th January 2023 at 11:00 am. 

Submission of EOI

All submissions of EOI shall be marked “EOI FOR THE RASFARI REEF RESTORATION PROJECT” and send below address:

Environmental Protection Agency

Green Building, 3rd Floor,

Handhuvaree Hingun, Maafannu,

Male', 20392, Republic of Maldives

Tel: +960 333 5949

Email: [email protected]

Submission deadline: 

31 January 2023 before 14:00 hrs

Evaluation Process

Upon receipt of the expression of interest, a preliminary evaluation based on the background and capacity of the parties will be conducted by EPA. The decisions of the selection will be informed to the applicants in writing.