We believe the effect you can have as an individual and the effect of (many) small scale projects is significant. Of course we have big issues like climate change where we need the entire world to act. But if the individual doesn’t start acting, there will never be a change. It all starts in your own backyard, and by talking about the problems you can be influential, creating a bigger movement in the end. This bigger movement can motivate businesses and politics to change.
Overfishing is one of the biggest threats to the reefs and therefore a focus of the foundation. In a complex ecosystem like a coral reef all species depend on each other. Taking or reducing certain species has an impact on the entire ecosystem and can even be the reason for its collapse.
In less developed countries the local population depends strongly on fisheries. In our campaigning we don’t forget that important human factor. It is our aim to provide for healthy fish resources for people who depend on them by bringing back the balance in the reef ecosystem.
On Zanzibar our local partner marinecultures.org organizes special meetings and presentations on various topics:
- General marine biology to create knowledge about the coral reef ecosystem;
- Threats to the reefs eg overfishing and destructive fishing techniques;
- The importance of No Take Zones;
- Future of the reefs and the importance to the community;
- Increasing pollution due to inappropriate waste disposal.
Our Kenyan partner on shark conservation Cordio started awareness programs on the biology of sharks, their importance to the habitat and how to protect them. There are different programs for school children, fishermen, and the general public.
Towards the ‘Western’ world our focus is different. Since here there is no dependence on fish and there are enough alternatives for fish, we believe eating less fish is an important step the Western world should take. More than 90% of all fish populations is depleted, overfished or fished to its maximum sustainable level. The oceans can not cope with this high demand anymore.
