CROSSROADS Maldives Gains Official Conservation Recognition for 1.71-Square-Kilometre Marine Area

The country’s largest recognised OECM protects an ecological corridor in Emboodhoo Lagoon alongside three resorts, with reef monitoring and biodiversity research central to its management.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A 1.71-square-kilometre section of Emboodhoo Lagoon has been recognised as an Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure.
• The area borders SAii Lagoon Maldives, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives and is described as the largest recognised OECM in the country.
• CROSSROADS reports more than 37 coral genera and 177 reef fish species in the conserved area, using monitoring tools to help manage biodiversity.
• The recognition is expected to support marine habitat stewardship and research opportunities for Maldivian students and scientists.

CROSSROADS Maldives, a multi-resort destination in South Malé Atoll, has received official recognition for a 1.71-square-kilometre marine conservation area in Emboodhoo Lagoon, establishing what the destination and local reports describe as the Maldives’ largest recognised Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM). The designation brings conservation management around a major hospitality development into focus at a time when island tourism and the protection of marine ecosystems must coexist.

The status was granted by the Maldives’ Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, with local reporting identifying 12 October 2026 as the date of formal designation. Unlike a conventional protected area, an OECM recognises a geographically defined location outside the formal protected-area system that is managed to deliver sustained biodiversity conservation outcomes. It does not, by itself, mean the entire resort destination has become a formally protected reserve.

A conservation corridor alongside three island resorts

The recognised site sits beside SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives, three properties within the integrated CROSSROADS destination. The 1.71-square-kilometre area functions as a marine ecological corridor, linking the visitor economy to the long-term health of surrounding lagoon and reef habitats.

CROSSROADS is the flagship development of S Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality business of Singha Estate, within the Boon Rawd Brewery Group. The destination opened in 2019 and combines resort accommodation with a marina, dining, recreation and marine education facilities. Its broader visitor offering is described on the official CROSSROADS Maldives website.

Reef surveys and wildlife monitoring inform management

According to the destination’s published conservation information, surveys of the area have recorded more than 37 coral genera and 177 reef fish species. The operator also reports the presence of 24 species on the IUCN Red List, including hawksbill turtles, ornate eagle rays, bowmouth guitarfish, giant guitarfish and scalloped hammerhead sharks. These figures describe the wildlife documented by the operator and should not be read as an independent assessment of population trends.

The lagoon is also identified as a movement corridor for spinner and bottlenose dolphins. CROSSROADS reports dolphin sighting probabilities of up to 86%, although the announcement does not specify the observation period or methodology behind that figure. Its conservation-management arrangements include drone surveillance, underwater cameras and GPS monitoring, alongside coordination with government bodies, community representatives and private-sector participants.

Chairath Sivapornpan, chief executive officer of Singha Estate, said the designation shows how consideration of biodiversity can be incorporated into business decisions from the start of a development. He connected the recognition with the international “30 by 30” ambition to conserve 30% of land and sea areas by 2030.

Michael Marshall, chief executive officer of S Hotels & Resorts, characterised conservation as part of day-to-day hotel operations rather than a separate initiative. He linked the recognition to the company’s stated commitment to protect 30% of key biodiversity areas, highlighting habitat monitoring, restoration and engagement with local communities and guests.

What the designation could mean for visitors and local research

For travellers, the immediate significance lies less in a new resort attraction than in the stewardship of the marine setting surrounding existing accommodation, boating and diving experiences. The recognised area includes habitat associated with important dive locations such as Emboodhoo Canyon. CROSSROADS says the designation is also expected to support conservation-learning opportunities for Maldivian students and researchers.

Tourism operators increasingly face the challenge of demonstrating measurable benefits for the landscapes and seascapes on which their businesses depend. At CROSSROADS, the OECM recognition establishes a defined area and management framework against which long-term conservation outcomes can be considered. Continued ecological monitoring will be important in determining whether the intended benefits are sustained as tourism activity continues.

The announcement was published by Visit Maldives Corporation and has also been reported by local news outlets. Further destination information is available from CROSSROADS Maldives.