KOZHIKODE: On December 4, Beypore Beach in Kozhikode, Kerala saw the world’s first ‘Marine Cemetery’ made completely out of single-use plastic. The initiative was driven by the efforts of climate activist Aakash Ranison with the support of Jellyfish Watersports, Clean Beach Mission, District Administration, Kozhikode and Beypore Port department. The cemetery aims to spread awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic, urban & industrial pollution and over-fishing.
According to S Sambasiva Rao, District Collector, Kozhikode, the marine cemetery serves as a repetitive reminder of the devastation that we are bringing upon us by being ignorant of the harmful effects of our daily activities. The Cemetery not only serves this purpose but also helps in making Kozhikode a sustainable travel destination.
The Marine Cemetery pays respect to eight critically endangered marine species along with a freshwater fish – Roseline shark or Miss Kerala or scientifically known as Sahyadria denisonii, that’s endemic to the fast-flowing hill streams and rivers of the Western Ghats (including Chaliyar river). In addition to these efforts, the district administration of Kozhikode has initiated a mass beach cleanliness drive under the guidance of Clean Beach Mission, Kozhikode. According to local officials of the district administration, this move not only raises awareness about the need to keep our public spaces clean but also about the toll littering takes on marine ecosystems around the world.
While talking about the initiative, Kaushiq Kodithodi, Founder of Jellyfish Watersports said that after the Kerala floods, the Chaliyar river, along with a number of other rivers in Kerala, was full of plastic waste. It is only imaginable how destructive this would have been to the river and ocean ecosystems. He further said that this encouraged her to show people the reality of the effects our actions have on other species.