HULHULE-MALE’ BRIDGE PROJECT

EIA for the proposed Hulhule-Male’ Bridge Project
Recreational NGOs and Businesses
Date: 24 June 2015
Time: 14:00 pm
Location: CDE Consulting
Participants:
1. Abdullah Areef - President, Maldives Body Boarding Association (MBBA)
2. Mohamed Khushrawan – Vice President, MBBA
3. Hussain Abdullah – Event Coordinator, MBBA
4. Hassan Rasheed – Media Coordinator, MBBA
5. Ali Khushrawan - Board Member, MBBA
6. Mohamed Shabyn – Chairman, Maldives Surfing Association (MSA)
7. Hussain Fayaz – Manager, Malihu Surf school
8. Sophia Ahsan Adnan – HR, Malihu Surf Schoo
9. Ahmed Fawaz – Advisor, Malihu Surf School
During the consultation meeting, several concerns were raised by the two associations and the
surf school.
The meeting participants had received information regarding the proposed project via different
news and social media. According to the surfers association, they have attempted to convey their
concerns to the relevant authorities regarding the loss to the surfing spot in the proposed project
area.
Their major concern is that the surfing spot in the proposed project area will not be accessible to
them during the construction stage of the project and the waves will be disrupted or changed
once the bridge is constructed. It was also highlighted that swell waves are mainly generated
towards the proposed bridge and that piers of the bridge will eventually reduce the size of the
waves in the area. They also noted that around 90% of the surfing area has already been lost due
to the construction of the artificial beach before.
Furthermore, the members in the meeting noted that over the years, surfing has become a unique
culture in the Maldives and that surfing industry is an important industry in the country. Adding
to that, they also highlighted that surfing industry has brought several international awards to the
country. Furthermore, it was noted that Male’ is home for majority of the surfers in the
Maldives, and hence the surfing spot in the proposed project location is surf spots utilized by the
majority of Maldivian surfers.
Prepared by: CDE Consulting & China Shipping Environment Technology
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