On the World Wildlife Conservation Day, the world’s first Marine Cemetery made out of single-use plastic bottles opened its gate at Beypore beach, Kozhikode. Built by Jellyfish Watersports, with the support of Clean Beach Mission, District Administration, Kozhikode, and Beypore Port department, and driven by Climate activist Aakash Ranison, it aims at spreading awareness about the devastating effects of single-use plastic, urban and industrial pollution, and overfishing. This Cemetery pays respect to eight critically endangered marine species, along with a freshwater fish — Miss Kerala (Sahyadria denisonii), that’s endemic to the fast-flowing hill streams and rivers of the Western Ghats (including Chaliyar river).
Marine species representing their endangered marine family are:
- Seahorse (Hippocampus)
- Parrotfish (Scariidae)
- Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Eagle Rays (Aetomylaeus vespertilio)
- Sawfish (Pristidae)
- Dugong (Dugongidae)
- Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
- Hammerhead shark (Sphyrnidae)
- Miss Kerala (Sahyadria denisonii) – Freshwater Fish
A memorial was held there by Mr. S. Sambasiva Rao (District Collector, Kozhikode) and Mr. V.K.C Mammed Koya (MLA, Beypore) to sensitize people about the grave issue and make them pledge to quit single-use plastic.
“The Marine Cemetery is a reminder of the destruction that we are bringing upon our planet in the name of convenience. So, we are supporting and promoting this initiative as part of Clean Beach Mission to spread awareness, as it not only educates locals and the world about the effects of single-use plastic, but it will also help Kozhikode become a sustainable travel destination” – S. Sambasiva Rao, District Collector, Kozhikode,
Aakash Ranison, climate activist says “This Marine Cemetery is built to jolt mankind, to make them realize the blunder they have done. And, parallelly educate them about the fact that flora and fauna in and around our rivers and oceans are on red alert. It’s time to take steps towards course-correction.”
