Atoll Marine Centre

Atoll Marine Centre focuses on running a marine conservation program, community engagement and rehabilitating turtles on the local island Naifaru in Lhaviyani atoll, Maldives. The organization is run by locals with the help and support of international staff and volunteers via Atoll Volunteers (see www.atollvolunteers.com). It is the only initiative on its type in the Maldives run by locals rather than a resort. Through their strong focus on environmental education, they involve the local community both on Naifaru Island and in the entire Lhaviyani atoll in the protection of the local environment. They rescue and rehabilitate turtles at their rescue centre located on Naifaru Island run by marine biologists and a veterinarian, with the aim get them healthy and back into the ocean as soon as possible. They also run coral restoration projects.