A little more about this project
A project that showcases the quiet, enchanting marine life that resides, hidden in plain sight, on the fringes of the bustling city of Mumbai.
The constant ebb and flow of the tides on shorelines create unique habitats called the 'intertidal region'. This region is different for every shoreline; some are rocky or sandy, some abound in pebbles and gravel, some boast huge boulders and sea cut rocks and some just have it all.
These structural differences shape the way waves sweep across a shore, making each shoreline a niche habitat for a diversity of invertebrate species. So far, this intertidal zone been observed to host many creatures such as crabs, barnacles, sea slugs, snails, shrimps, fish, and corals, which are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Interestingly, the species that breed here adapt to harsher than usual conditions, being subjected to intense elements of water, air and heat.
The current situation:
The intertidal region is one of the most neglected ecosystems in the country. Even in a city like Mumbai, where the sea is always in the backdrop, thriving intertidals are largely unacknowledged.
This becomes especially troubling when it comes to coastal work that disrupts this entire zone.
How CCF is addressing this:
Marine Life of Mumbai (MLOM) is CCF's flagship project, through which they're working to identify and document the marine species found on the city's shores. Another core aspect is to make Mumbai's residents aware of this special ecosystem through outreach activities like shorewalks, marine meet-ups and citizen science initiatives.
Supporting this project would mean enabling MLOM to continue helping Mumbai citizens connect and engage with their city's coastal life.
Funds generated would be put towards conducting both shorewalks and their research work, which includes administrative costs such a salaries.