Govt scraps Dhonfanu land reclamation project amid fears of damage to Hanifaru Bay

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to scrap a project to reclaim land in B. Dhonfanu, following widespread concerns over the potential damage to Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO biosphere reserve that lies near the island.

On August 13, Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) was awarded a contract to reclaim 13 hectares of land in Dhonfanu, a small island with a population of less than 400 people. The agreement was signed during President Muizzu’s visit to the island, and drew criticism from environmental advocates over its implications for Hanifaru Bay, which is among the most important marine habitats in the Maldives.

In a post on X on Tuesday morning, President Muizzu said he pledged to run the land reclamation project at the request of the people of Dhonfanu, but has now come to understand that the people are against it.

“I pledged to run a land reclamation project in B. Dhonfanu at the request of the people of the island. And I had the agreement signed to fulfil this pledge. But I have been informed by the people that they no longer want this,” he said.

President Muizzu said that he has therefore decided to scrap the project.

“Therefore, I hereby inform you that the government will not be reclaiming land there. The council and other relevant institutions will be formally notified of this via letters today,” he said.

އަޅުގަނޑު ރަށްރަށުގައި ކުރާނެ ކަންކަމާބެހޭ ވަޢުދު ވަނީ އެ ރަށެއްގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ފަރާތުން އެކަމަކަށް އެދިގެން. ރަށްޔިތުން ބޭނުން ނުވާ ކަމެއް އެ ރަށެއްގައި މި ސަރުކާރުން ނުކުރާނެ. މީ ރައްޔިތުންނާ ގާތުން މަސައްކަތްކުރާ , ރައްޔިތުން އެދޭ އަމާޒަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރާ ސަރުކާރެއް.…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) September 9, 2025

President Muizzu added that all government projects are based on the aspirations of the people.

“I pledge to run projects in islands based on requests from the people living in the islands. This administration will not do anything in an island that goes against the will of the people. This is an administration that works closely with the people, towards goals that people aspire towards,” he said.

Responding to President Muizzu’s announcement, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib clarified that while the land reclamation project has been dropped, the government will be running a harbor development and coastal protection project in Dhonfanu.

ބިން ހިއްކުން ކުރިއަށް ނުގެންދަވަން ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ނިންމެވުމާއި ގުޅިގެން ބިން ހިއްކުން ކުރިއަށް ނުގެންދިޔަ ނަމަވެސް ބަނދަރުގެ މައްސަލަ ޙައްލުކުރުމާއި، ގޮޑުދޮށް ޙިމާޔަތްކުރުން ސަރުކާރުން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާނެއެވެ. https://t.co/YpF5yvIe7y

— Abdulla Muththalib (@muththo) September 9, 2025

Hanifaru Bay is recognized as one of the most important marine habitats in the Maldives, serving as a critical feeding and breeding ground for several vulnerable and endangered species, including whale sharks, reef manta rays, napoleon wrasse, as well as protected marine turtles.

The commencement of reclamation works in Dhonfanu had sparked a petition on Change.org, calling for an immediate halt to dredging operations, stressing that Hanifaru Bay is crucial feeding and mating ground for endangered species, and warning that the potential threat from the project is not solely environmental but extends to economic and cultural dimensions.

Concerns outlined in the petition included the risk of sedimentation caused by dredging, which could disrupt the marine water cycle and endanger plankton populations, the microscopic organisms that form the foundation of the food chain for reefs and larger marine life, the decline of which could have widespread consequences for the ecosystem.

The petitioners warned that the project poses a threat not only to the survival of individual species but also to the future of the island communities whose existence is deeply tied to the sea.

The petition titled 'Stop the 13-Hectare Land Reclamation Threatening Hanifaru Bay’s Marine Ecosystem' has over gathered over 1,000 verified signatures.