Urgent Appeal: The Reef-World Foundation Requires Public Support

The Green Fins initiative, coordinated globally by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), is an internationally recognized sustainable diving and snorkeling program. Its mission is to support, inspire, and empower governments, businesses, communities, and individuals to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources.

Green Fins provides an independent certification and management approach to reduce environmental impacts caused by marine tourism, particularly scuba diving and snorkeling activities. By implementing environmentally friendly practices, Green Fins aims to make sustainable diving the social norm, protecting coral reef ecosystems worldwide.

Divers and dive operators participating in Green Fins commit to following a strict environmental code of conduct and undergo regular assessments to ensure sustainable practices. For instance, Green Fins in Jordan has achieved significant reductions in threats to reefs, including stopping anchoring damage and reducing diver contact with coral reefs by 69%.

The Reef-World Foundation is currently in the process of planning updates for Green Fins educational materials. As part of its latest review, they are seeking input from divers and industry professionals to refine training resources and better educate them about marine conservation and sustainable behaviors underwater.

If you want to participate, monitoring The Reef-World Foundation’s website and Green Fins communication channels for surveys or open calls for input would be the best approach. This ensures your feedback contributes directly to advancing sustainable diver education.

Green Fins offers practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices like anchoring, fish feeding, and chemical pollution. It also helps dive and snorkel operators become more sustainable, providing the only internationally recognized environmental standards for snorkelling and scuba diving.

For more information about Reef-World and Green Fins, visit www.reef-world.org and www.greenfins.net, respectively. You can also follow The Reef-World Foundation and Green Fins on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Currently, The Reef-World Foundation is asking divers worldwide to fill out a short survey about their media habits and views on learning more about the environment and sustainable diving practices. The survey can be taken online at https://form.jotform.com/Reef_World/materials.

By choosing Green Fins-certified operators, adopting best practices, and participating in conservation activities, divers can support the initiative and contribute to enhancing environmental protection globally.