Coastal Impact

The organisation conducts Marine Awareness Programmes, transitioning from physical to online presentations across India and abroad. These initiatives include online presentations delivered to schools and colleges, aiming to raise awareness about marine conservation. Additionally, they organised a drawing contest among Goa's schools, rewarding winners with a Scuba experience and showcasing their artwork in a calendar, with special recognition for drawings from an Underprivileged Boys Home. With a newly designed slideshow and a team of volunteers trained as online presenters, the organisation is dedicated to expanding its reach to promote Marine Conservation nationwide.

Utilizing its platform, Coastal Impact initiated a webinar series featuring guest speakers discussing diverse topics concerning marine conservation. The completed webinars covered a spectrum of subjects, from exploring India's seaweed forests and the challenges of its growing seaweed industry, led by Gabriella D’Cruz, to discussions on community-focused conservation initiatives by the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP). Further sessions delved into wildlife conservation, storytelling by wildlife filmmaker Malaika Vaz, and the application of technology in recording marine ecosystem data, led by experts in the field. With upcoming webinars on the horizon, the organisation continues to provide educational opportunities to explore pressing issues related to marine ecosystems and conservation efforts.

Coastal Impact extends aid to postgraduate and PhD students, as well as NGOs engaged in marine conservation and research. This assistance encompasses volunteer programmes, internships, and the provision of diving equipment. Additionally, the organisation facilitates access to research papers and articles through a user-friendly Google Excel Sheet. This resource aids researchers and individuals in easily locating specific research materials, streamlining their search process for relevant information in the marine field.

Under the Coral Crusaders Project, Coastal Impact initiated a Coral Adoption campaign in 2021. This campaign aimed to gather funds for monitoring existing transplanted corals and transplanting new reef-building coral species like Favia. By March 2021, 44 coral fragments had been adopted, accumulating over Rs. 2 Lakhs in donations, due to the generous contributions from supporters. The organisation's team of divers diligently transplanted coral fragments in Goa's Grande Island waters since early 2020, witnessing promising growth. To sustain its efforts, individuals can participate by adopting a single coral fragment for Rs. 5,500 or a complete tile of four fragments for Rs. 20,000, ensuring the continuous success of the programme.

Coastal Impact's Marine Monitors Project engages certified scuba divers in monitoring Goa's oceans near Dabolim Airport as part of its Citizen Scientist initiative. Divers actively contribute to marine conservation by participating in coral transplantation and data collection, aiding the global understanding of coral reef conditions. With Goa's marine biodiversity facing challenges from prolonged global warming, where approximately 80% of the reefs exhibited signs of bleaching in April 2020, Coastal Impact responded by transplanting 192 coral fragments in December 2020. The project anticipates these fragments will grow, creating new habitats and attracting diverse marine life, a trend already observed by Coastal Impact's divers as they monitor the health and growth of transplanted corals. Marine Monitors are encouraged to document their observations after each dive, contributing valuable data to Coastal Impact's coral transplantation databases.