Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka

Tilly Seneviratne is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello, I am Tilly and I appreciate the time you have taken to read about my fundraiser. I am very passionate and enthusiastic about raising awareness on environmental issues. Recently I was shortlisted to be a finalist in the MISS INTERNATIONAL UK 2023 beauty pageant. Miss International Pageant is one of the most prestigious, recognised and fourth-largest pageants in the world. The finals will be taking place on 10th June 2023 at Parr Hall, Palmyra Square, Warrington, United Kingdom.

As part of the competition, and being a finalist, I have the opportunity to raise awareness pertaining to a cause that I am deeply passionate about.

Hence, I have chosen to raise funds for a censorious project initiated by The Pearl Protectors Organisation ‘Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka’ in my hometown which has a major influence on environmental pollution by plastics. The objective is to remove underwater marine litter and stranded fishing gear from the seabeds of Sri Lanka. As a qualified Open Water Diver, I was privileged to witness and volunteer with the Pearl Protectors team whilst I was in Sri Lanka in 2020.

The money raised as part of this campaign will be sent to ‘The Pearl Protectors’ Team in Sri Lanka to develop sustainable activities to clean plastics from the seabed and continue to do their good work.

Further information on the project

According to a recent survey conducted by National Aquatic Research Agency (NARA), 80% of the seabed in the Western Province of Sri Lanka has been polluted with over 25% of Sri Lanka’s population living in close proximity to the coast of the island, much of the household and industrial waste leads its way to the ocean. Less than 15% of the waste and litter which enters the sea floats while the remaining sinks to the bottom of the sea. The initial resting place for much of the plastic and other marine litter is the Euphotic level (up to 200m depth) where debris and litter accumulate within natural reefs, seagrass meadows, shipwrecks, corals, and sandy seabed. Due to the accumulation, many of the marine species' natural habitats have been threatened due to the loss of habitat space, increase of the acidic level of the water, dispersion of microplastic and microfiber, and consumption of plastic and other waste mistakenly.

During the First phase of the project, PADI-qualified divers initiated 160 kg clean-up of stranded fishing gear and marine litter from the seabeds of Sri Lanka. Volunteers of The Pearl Protectors who have received PADI certification will engage in the cleaning efforts across the shallow seas (up to 18m) where a larger portion of underwater marine litter is contained. The 2nd phase of the expedition will consist of 10 underwater clean-up efforts with the addition of acquiring cleaning equipment and creating awareness on the damage.

Project Impact Goal:

• Collection of an estimated 850kg of marine litter & stranded fishing gear.

• Remove underwater marine litter from sensitive marine ecosystems.

• Auditing and segregation of collected litter.

• Conduct public awareness on plastic and marine pollution.

• Advocate towards reducing plastic waste leakage to the ocean.

• Advocate towards better policy & enforcement on stranding of fishing gear.

Please donate to this Environment cause to reduce plastic pollution, fight climate change, protect our planet’s wildlife, and fund our collective dream of a sustainable future.