About Friends of Marine Life - FML in Valiyathura, Watts road, Vallakkadavu P.O,, Trivandrum

UN Ocean Conference Voluntary commitments – FML

Objectives

1. Educating all to understand oceans’ contributions to people and quality of life.
2. Acknowledging and appreciating sustainable coastal and marine practices of indigenous communities.
3. Identifying and conserving key coastal and marine biodiversity areas as well as underwater cultural heritage sites.
4. Creating awareness about five biggest threats to ocean sustainability: a) bottom trawling, b) harbour dredging, c) breakwater constructions, d) pollution and e) mining.
5. Improving ocean productivity through artificial reef constructions with community monitoring.
6. Facilitating capacity building of coastal youth, indigenous fishermen, marine scientists, policy makers, community leaders, social workers and other interested parties.
7. Developing integrated marine and coastal ecosystem management services

Implementation Methodologies

An already developed interdisciplinary, inclusive and collaborative working group of 20 people will monitor the activities with a shared research modality approach. Intersection of ocean conservation, sustainable development and human wellbeing will be a key feature. Public awareness, education activities and community participation will be encouraged. Coastal communication will be made possible, where there is an attempt to bridge between indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) with mainstream through organising the local ocean conferences, seminars, workshops, photo-video exhibitions, short films, documentaries, booklets and others. Training programmes and events will be conducted to build capacities of all stakeholders.

Follow up mechanisms

Initially most of seabed studies and other activities will be concentrated in the two districts in South India. They will be reviewed annually and assessed as well as action plans will be developed. The results will be distributed widely by print, visual and electronic means with the support of the relevant and appropriate organisations. Mobile interpretation facilities will be explored and utilised. Indigenous ownership and monitoring will be maintained and sought after. Marine biodiversity assessment proposals in partnership with relevant individuals and organisations will be submitted to the concerned authorities and governments to enact legal provisions. FML will work with partner organisations to implement the methodologies, and will look for collaborations in other parts of South Asia.

Governance

FML instituted 20 members of a working group to oversee the objectives of the voluntary commitments. They will initiate, recommend and review action plans and further progress. They will make efforts to consult with partner organisations, indigenous community members, government officials and other stakeholders to make appropriate decisions. FML governing body will supervise the decisions, actions and responsibilities undertaken by the working group members. Collaborative and participatory decision making will be entertained and accountability will be rendered.