Fines imposed on ships that have damaged coral reefs in the Maldives have not been paid, an audit has revealed.
The worst offender identified by government auditors is the then owner of fish transporter Emerald Reefer, which damaged part of the Muli Kolhu reef near Addu in November 2011. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that the reef was destroyed and unlikely to recover.
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The reefs are vital for the country's two main industries, fishing and tourism, and also protect the low-lying islands from storm surges.
The EPA levies a fine of USD5,560 for every square metre of coral affected, so extensive damage