The Pearl Protectors

The Pearl Protectors
Formation2018
FounderMuditha Katuwawala
TypeNon-governmental Organization
PurposeMarine Conservation, Volunteerism, Youth engagement, Advocacy
Location
  • Sri Lanka
Websitepearlprotectors.org

The Pearl Protectors is a youth-led marine conservation organisation. Established in 2018, The Pearl Protectors seek to reduce plastic pollution and conserve the marine environment through youth engagement, volunteerism, awareness and advocacy.

Projects

Nurdle Free Lanka

In the wake of the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, The Pearl Protectors initiated the Nurdle Free Lanka campaign to mobilize volunteers to clean nurdles, educate the public and advocate for nurdle spills to be prevented at the source domestically with a petition.[1]

'Pearl Protector Approved'

The Pearl Protectors is known for the launching of the 'Pearl Protector Approved' Accredited Standardisation Certificate[2] a certificate that for the first time recognises restaurants and food vendors in Sri Lanka that eliminate single-use plastic items based on three levels of commitments. The certificate has been adapted by Ranbath Organics[3] and Café Kumbuk.[4]

Turtle Patrol

Turtle Patrol is an annual project by The Pearl Protectors that involves volunteers to patrol the Colombo beaches throughout the nesting season. The project helps protect sea turtle eggs from illegal poachers.[5]

Cleaner Seabeds of Sri Lanka

Cleaner Seabeds of Sri Lanka aims to keep Sri Lanka's coral reefs and the seabed free from plastic pollution.[6] The Pearl Protectors produced a documentary on underwater plastic pollution.[7]

Campaigns

The Pearl Protectors advocates for policies to ban single-use plastic items,[8][9] maintains a volunteer platform, constructs a Christmas tree annually out of discarded plastic bottles accumulated from beaches and displays it at Wellawatte Beach to highlight single-use plastic pollution,[10] mobilizes volunteers to help cleanup efforts during maritime accidents like oil spills,[11] host educational events,[12] conducts school and public awareness sessions and workshops,[13][14] carries out beach cleanups,[15] conducts advocacy research,[16] advocates for Environmental Impact Assessments to be carried out for development projects and aquaculture in the coastal zone,[17][18] volunteers to rescue stranded marine life,[19] advocates against unethical fishing practices,[20] collaborates with AIESEC Sri Lanka [21] for youth-engagement in marine environmental protection and promotes upcycling.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tackling Sri Lanka's Nurdle Problem". roar.media. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  2. ^ "'Pearl Protector Approved' (PPA) accreditation certificate launched". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  3. ^ "Promoting a dining culture sans plastic". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  4. ^ "Café Kumbuk certified as Pearl Protector approved restaurant | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  5. ^ "Protecting Colombo's hidden sea turtle playground". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  6. ^ "'We Will Not Give Up': Sri Lanka's battle against ghost nets". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  7. ^ tharindu. "80% of Western Province seabed polluted (Video)". srilankamirror.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  8. ^ "Massive plastic waste pile found in Jaffna sewer". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  9. ^ "Banning the importing of plastic and its impact on elephant conservation". www.themorning.lk. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  10. ^ "A Christmas tree with a message". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  11. ^ Asiri Fernando (16 Sep 2018). "Impact from oil leak on coastal ecosystem to take months- NARA". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via PressReader.
  12. ^ "Celebrating World Oceans Day 2020, The Pearl Protector way | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  13. ^ "The Eco-Brick Workshop". Let's Build Great Things! | Maker Art Classes to Empower Children. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  14. ^ "Eco-brick Structures". Let's Build Great Things! | Maker Art Classes to Empower Children. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  15. ^ "World Clean-up Day marked in Sri Lanka". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  16. ^ "Oil tanker fire in Sri Lanka's rich waters highlights need for preparedness". Mongabay Environmental News. 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  17. ^ "Absence of EIA and wastage of public funds in Mt. Lavinia beach nourishment project | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  18. ^ "A look at fish and shrimp farming in Sri Lanka". www.themorning.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  19. ^ "Admirable community effort in tackling SL's biggest mass beaching". www.themorning.lk. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  20. ^ "Reconsider legalisation of spear fishing– Pearl Protectors". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  21. ^ "Whispering Waves - Marine Environment Protection". AIESEC. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  22. ^ "Save the oceans this christmas". www.themorning.lk. Retrieved 2020-12-20.