Get involved in coral conservation

Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Six Senses Laamu, Six Senses Fiji and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay are all committed to coral projects to preserve and restore this highly sensitive ecosystem.

Anse Peniche colony

Six Senses Zil Pasyon has partnered with local NGOs Nature Seychelles, Ramos Marine and Island Reserve, in addition to the Seychelles National Park Authority, to pursue coral restoration around Félicité Island. Having the opportunity to help rebuild the underwater environments is positive both for the local environment where the resort operates and the tourism that visits the island. It is hoped that healthy reefs will invite back the beautiful marine life for guests to see while snorkeling or diving around Félicité.

During 2018, corals grew over 200 percent on average, with a growth range of between 85 and 422 percent per harvested segment. Survival rate was 93.4 percent, with the majority of the loss resulting from nursery damage that unfortunately took place during August’s rough monsoon season.

Coral transplantation

Coral transplantation is underway under the watchful eye of our Sustainability Manager and Marine Biologist Anna Zora: “The coral nursery has not only allowed us to improve the marine ecosystems surrounding our island, but it has also given us the opportunity to engage and educate our guests, hosts and local community regarding the importance of coral reefs and the negative impact human activity can have on our environment. It has also been a wonderful collaboration between multiple organizations and demonstrates the strong commitment to conservation in Seychelles.”

Corals are being returned to the natural reef environment, where they will continue to grow and flourish. With the creation of the new coral garden in the designated Marine Park Area surrounding Félicité Island, fish and other marine life will begin to return, enhancing the natural ecosystems as well as the guest experience for keen snorkelers at Six Senses Zil Pasyon.

While you’re with us, we encourage you to swim the lines and see the plantation for yourself.

The coral project at Ninh Van Bay

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay collaborates with the Oceanography Institute to research and survey the coral as well as plan for the restoration. In 2017, we launched the coral restoration program with a feasibility study, which is expected to successfully nurse more than 80 percent of transplanted coral pieces back to health.

You can help to re-attach broken shards of living coral to natural frameworks adjacent to the natural reef; a similar concept as to planting a personal tree. This stage is currently in the development process using background knowledge about the bay and reef conditions.

Sustainable Hotel award for Six Senses Fiji

Six Senses Fiji works diligently to attach fractured coral strings to the bottom of the bay in front of the resort to find their roots. Since the initiative began at the end of 2015, the group has seen brilliant progress, with a thriving coral garden as the outcome. The more coral life there is, the louder the vibration sound, attracting more fish and life to the bay. Six Senses Fiji was recognized for its climate efforts including coral restoration at the annual HICAP 2018 Sustainable Hotel Awards.