ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED FISHERIES AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON GAAUNDOODHOO ISLAND, RAA ATOLL October 2018 Prepared for Sea Partners Maldives Pvt Ltd, G.Swan lake Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives ެގުމަކިރެވުޑނަދ ިއާމަކިރެވްސަމ ޫދޫޑނުއާގ.ރ ްނުޢޫރްޝަމ ެގުމުރުކީޤްއަރަތ ިއަގުތޮގ ެގްއެށަރ ްޓޯޕިރ ާރުކްނާޔަބ ުރަވްނިމ ެނާރުކުރަސައ ްށަޓްއެވާމިތ 2018 2018 ރަބޯޓްކޮއ :ުރާޔިދެއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ސީ ޕާޓްނާރސް މޯލްޑިވްސް ޕވޓ ލޓޑ، ގ.ސްވާން ލޭ ްކ :ްޓްނަޓްލަސްނޮކ ޭއ.ިއައ.ީއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޓެވިއަރްޕ ީއ.ީޑ.ީސ EIA for the Proposed Agricultural Development Project in Gaaundoodhoo Island, Raa Atoll Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... x Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ xi Lead Consultant’s Declaration ...................................................................................................... xii Proponent’s Declaration............................................................................................................... xiii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... xiv 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the EIA ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Proponent ............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Statement of Need ............................................................................................................ 2 1.5 Legal Status of Land ........................................................................................................ 2 1.6 Project Scope .................................................................................................................... 2 1.7 Aim and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3 1.8 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 3 1.9 Consultants, Contractors and Government Institutions.................................................... 8 1.10 Project Financing.............................................................................................................. 8 1.11 Scope and Terms of Reference of EIA ............................................................................. 8 1.12 Assessment Methodology ................................................................................................ 9 1.12.1 General Approach ........................................................................................................ 9 1.12.2 The Study Area.............................................................................................................. 9 1.12.3 Field Observations ..................................................................................................... 10 1.12.4 Desk Study Review ...................................................................................................... 12 1.12.5 Public and Key Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................. 13 1.12.6 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 13 1.12.7 Report Format ............................................................................................................ 13 1.13 Study Team Members .................................................................................................... 14 1.14 Limitations of the study.................................................................................................. 14 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Project Outline and Project Site Plan ............................................................................. 16 2.2 Detailed Project Description and Work Methodology ................................................... 20 Prepared by: CDE Consulting Page|i EIA for the Proposed Agricultural Development Project in Gaaundoodhoo Island, Raa Atoll 2.2.1 Access Jetty ................................................................................................................. 20 2.2.2 Administration and Staff Facilities ............................................................................. 21 2.2.3 Utilities ....................................................................................................................... 21 2.2.4 Storage Facilities ........................................................................................................ 24 2.2.5 Post-Harvest Processing facilities .............................................................................. 24 2.2.6 Training and Experience Centre ................................................................................ 26 2.2.7 Mariculture Activities ................................................................................................. 26 2.2.8 Agricultural Activities................................................................................................. 34 2.2.1 Support Facilities ....................................................................................................... 36 2.3 Project Schedule and Life Span ..................................................................................... 37 2.4 Labour Requirements and Availability .......................................................................... 40 2.5 Waste Management, Logistics and Safety Measures ..................................................... 40 2.5.1 Site Office and Temporary Accommodation ............................................................... 40 2.5.2 Construction Waste Management and Disposal ........................................................ 40 2.5.3 Pollution and Emission Control Measures ................................................................. 40 2.5.4 Sediment Containment and Turbidity Control Measures ........................................... 40 2.5.5 Health and Safety Measures ....................................................................................... 41 2.5.6 Emergency Spill Response Plan ................................................................................. 41 2.5.7 Utilities ....................................................................................................................... 42 2.5.8 Fire Prevention ........................................................................................................... 42 2.6 Summary of Project Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................ 42 2.7 Demobilization ............................................................................................................... 44 3 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................. 45 3.1 Relevant Legislation ....................................................................................................... 45 3.1.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93).................................... 45 3.1.2 Uninhabited Islands Act ............................................................................................. 46 3.1.3 Hazardous Substances Act.......................................................................................... 46 3.1.4 Employment Act (2/2008) ........................................................................................... 48 3.1.5 Immigration Act (1/2007) ........................................................................................... 50 3.1.6 Anti-Human Trafficking Act (12/2013)....................................................................... 50 3.1.7 Public Health Protection Act (07/12) ......................................................................... 51 3.1.8 Substances Prohibited to be Brought into the Maldives Act (04/75) ......................... 51 3.1.9 Pesticides Bill ............................................................................................................. 51 3.2 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................................ 52 3.2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ................................................ 52 3.2.2 Regulation on Sand and Coral Mining ....................................................................... 52 Prepared by: CDE Consulting Page|ii EIA for the Proposed Agricultural Development