SEATH FAMILY’S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS PROTECTING THE FOREST OF THE SEA: THE CORAL REEFS

Ph.D. Candidate in Economics

Karolina and Barry Seath along with their daughters Georgina and Josephine are residents in London where they have their own houses. However, they have now decided to move to the Seychelles Island. This is because Barry, a former recruitment consultant, and policeman, as well as his family, feel the necessity to protect the coral reefs in the Indian Ocean.

Barry told GNN; “We are just a normal husband, wife, and two kids, living the sort of life that most others do… but we felt the need to make a positive change for ourselves, our children, and the world we had largely taken for granted. So, we have sold our home and parted company with most of our worldly possessions.”

There are several reasons why they have taken this initiative, the first one being the inadequate existence of as small as 2% coral reefs.

In the interview with GNN, Barry said “Every time we visited, we noticed the coral was getting worse and worse. All the tourists say the same thing. They love the beaches but are disappointed with the coral. They expect these lush coral reefs, but what they find is lots of coral rubble.” The corals get bleached and turn white.

Moreover, a YouTube video that the Seaths made gave an abundance of information. The coral reefs in oceans absorb most of the greenhouse gases and are a habitat in feeding about 25% of the marine life. They are also used to make medicines that can beat illnesses like cancer. Not only can they save humans, but they protect the seas as well.

Project Development

To develop this project they have been working on starting a charity for the Coral Reef conservation UK and raise funds. A few biologists and experts as well as help from the island’s owner also joined the team to build a farm on the Moyenne Island, located just off the coast of Mahé, Seychelles’ largest island. They are constantly researching advanced coral conservation techniques.

The main reasons for the destruction of these coral reefs are global warming and rising sea temperatures. Therefore, they plan on building a land-based coral farm on the island to grow lots of corals. The aim is 10,000 a year. Using new techniques like micro fragmentations will faster the coral growth rate nearly 40 times. Using tanks to grow them will ensure close inspections, right water temperature, avoidance of natural predators, and efficiency. As a result, they’re cheaper as well. When the corals grow big and strong, they can be put back in the reefs to perform naturally.

A little donation can even help in a large way and be inspiring. Visiting their website will give a more detailed and clear look into their motives.

By: Nehla Zohaira, SAVED News International Correspondent, South Asia