Diving Deep: These Organisations Are At The Forefront Of Marine Conservation
Through their dedicated efforts, these organisations are not only preserving marine ecosystems but also raising awareness about the importance of sustainable practices and the need for environmental stewardship
India, with its vast coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is blessed with diverse marine ecosystems and an abundance of marine life. Yet, all of these ecosystems are under direct threat from urbanisation, unchecked construction and climate change. Recognising the urgent need to protect and conserve these precious resources, many organisations have taken up the cause of marine conservation.
Terra Conscious
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Founded in 2017 by Puja Mitra, Terra Conscious is a marine conservation and responsible tourism focussed organisation. Mitra, who runs the organisation with her husband Roshan Gonsalves, works in partnership with local operators, conducting ethical dolphin watching tours across Goa. They also work towards awareness-building and help address marine and coastal conservation challenges.
InSeason Fish
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Started by marine conservationist Divya Karnad, InSeason Fish is a marine conservation initiative that hopes to highlight and promote India’s seafood diversity by supporting responsible fishing. Through this sustainable seafood initiative, they offer resources to a variety of stakeholders, such as educational materials and seafood guides. They also partner with restaurants to create sustainable menus with seasonal seafood.
ReefWatch Marine Conservation
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Founded in 1993 by Prahlad and Mitali Kakkar and spearheaded by Nayantara Jain, ReefWatch Marine Conservation is a Not For Profit organisation with efforts targeted towards protecting and nurturing the diversity of life in India’s coastal and marine environments. They have bases in Maharashtra, Karnataka and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jain today oversees efforts that span across various domains including coral reef restoration, education and outreach programs.
Coastal Conservation Foundation
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Founded in 2019 and based in Mumbai, CCF is a non-profit organisation committed to the preservation and restoration of Mumbai’s coastal ecosystems. With a focus on marine conservation, the CCF is dedicated to protecting the city’s marine biodiversity. Their Coastwise Marine Festival is India’s flagship marine festival that shines the spotlight on lesser-known marine ecosystems. And through projects like Marine Life of Mumbai and Marine Life of Goa, they also highlight many of these cities’ hidden marine life.
Beach Please
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In operation since 2017, Beach Please is India’s largest youth-led community working towards environmental conservation. They organise weekly clean-up drives at multiple locations in and around Mumbai in addition to conducting sensitisation programs for local communities. So far, they have managed to clean and dispose of more than 7.6 million kgs of garbage from the city’s coastline in a span of 280 weeks.
