Our Projects
O.A.S.I.S
Ocean Animal Stranding Intervention & Support
A stranding incident is when an animal such as a sea turtle, sea bird or the cetacean washes up from the sea onto land, either dead or alive (due to natural or anthropogenic causes) and is unable to return to the water.
In recent years, an increasing number of stranding incidents have been reported along India’s coastline. However, many cases likely remain undocumented due to limited awareness, gaps in reporting systems, and the lack of specialised marine veterinary response capacity. Understanding why strandings occur – particularly the rise in individual strandings – requires systematic documentation, timely response, and scientific investigations. Strengthening these efforts is essential to effective conservation strategies.
The O.A.S.I.S project responds to sick, injured and dead marine megafauna including – sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins and whales – in partnership with the State Forest Departments. Currently operational along the coasts of Karnataka and Goa with treatment centres in Kundapura and Benaulim, respectively.
Re(ef)Generate
RE(EF)GENERATE
Coral reefs around the world are rapidly declining under the growing pressures of climate change and anthropogenic activities. Even small increases in sea surface temperatures can trigger widespread coral bleaching, pushing many reefs beyond their thermal tolerance limits. In the Andamans Islands, strong El Niño events have contributed to the bleaching of the coral reef ecosystems.
Re(ef)Generate project focuses on building resilient reef ecosystems in the Andaman Islands through science-based restoration techniques and local stewardship. Our pilot project at Chidiyatapu, uses mineral accretion technology and strategically designed artificial reef structures, to rehabilitate degraded reef areas, support coral growth, and enhance marine biodiversity.
Our key objectives are to increase coral cover, strengthen reef-associated fauna populations, and create locally managed restoration models that can be replicable across island ecosystems.
Building on the lessons and data from our existing restoration site, we are now expanding to Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island). This is an important step in scaling our efforts beyond a single pilot location and strengthening reef recovery across the Islands.
MATSYA: TELEMEDICINE HELPLINE
In 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) released the Marine Megafauna Stranding Management Guidelines focusing on the importance of rapid response, rescue, and necropsies to improve conservation efforts for species like whales, dolphins, and sea turtles.
MATSYA has been designed to support and strengthen on-ground implementation of these national guidelines. Given India’s extensive and geographically diverse coastline, the project adopts an innovative and scalable approach through telemedicine based veterinary assistance. This enables real-time expert veterinary guidance to frontline responders.
Telemedicine Helpline: The MATSYA helpline is first-of-its kind marine response initiative designed to report, track and document marine events such as strandings, fish die-offs, oil spills, and other ecological incidents.
RESTORATION & REHABILITATION
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
MANAGEMENT
GHOST NET RETRIEVAL
Ghost Nets are abandoned, discarded or lost fishing gear that drift through the ocean carried by the global currents and tides. Often made of durable synthetic fibers, they can persist for decades, entangling marine animals, damaging habitats, and contributing to plastic pollution. These nets can cause severe injuries or mortalities in fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and other marine species, disrupting entire ecosystems.
Through our Ghost Retrieval initiative, we work to prevent damaged fishing nets from entering into the ocean. Instead of discarding unusable gear at sea, fishers are encouraged to sell their old nets to us. This approach not only reduces marine pollution but also creates a pathway for responsible waste management and community participation in conservation.
Our work focuses on a circular economy approach transforming waste into valuable resources. Through upcycling and recycling, discarded nets can be repurposed into durable products, demonstrating how ocean waste can become functional goods rather than pollution. In addition, we remove plastic debris that washes ashore through regular beach clean-ups and community reporting systems. At present, this initiative is active in Kundapura, Karnataka.
Taken by: Shinto K Anto
Taken in: Manilao, Philippines
General – In this category we invited underwater images of all types taken by any type of camera. The winning image was a macro image of a Pygmy Seahorse nestled in a fan coral.
Taken by: Palak Jain
Taken in: Maldives
Under 18s – This category was created to encourage young talent and ocean explorers of the country. The winning image was a lionfish captured by a 14 year old girl from Mumbai.
Taken by: Gaurav Patil
Taken in: Goa, India
Conservation – In this category we invited any image that portrayed a marine conservation issue, whether taken on land or underwater. The winning image was of a leopard ray being gutted by a fishermen on the shores of Margao.
Taken by: Palak Jain
Taken in: Maldives
Video – In this category we invited underwater videos under 4 minutes long. The winning entry was a beautiful, heart wrenching film about humpback whales, shot in the Kingdom of Tonga by Upamanyu Das.
BLUE INDIA UNDERWATER IMAGERY COMPETITION
The Blue India Underwater Imagery Competition has 4 main categories – General, Under 18s, Conservation and Video. The competition is only open to Indian Nationals. Featured here are the winners from 2019. We have currently paused this competition and will be announcing the next dates for submission of entries as soon as we are able.
BLUE INDIA UNDERWATER IMAGERY COMPETITION
The Blue India Underwater Imagery Competition has 4 main categories – General, Under 18s, Conservation and Video. The competition is only open to Indian Nationals. Featured here are the winners from 2019. We have currently paused this competition and will be announcing the next dates for submission of entries as soon as we are able.
Taken by: Shinto K Anto
Taken in: Manilao, Philippines
General – In this category we invited underwater images of all types taken by any type of camera. The winning image was a macro image of a Pygmy Seahorse nestled in a fan coral.
Taken by: Palak Jain
Taken in: Maldives
Under 18s – This category was created to encourage young talent and ocean explorers of the country. The winning image was a lionfish captured by a 14 year old girl from Mumbai.
Taken by: Gaurav Patil
Taken in: Goa, India
Conservation – In this category we invited any image that portrayed a marine conservation issue, whether taken on land or underwater. The winning image was of a leopard ray being gutted by a fishermen on the shores of Margao.
Taken by: Palak Jain
Taken in: Maldives
Video – In this category we invited underwater videos under 4 minutes long. The winning entry was a beautiful, heart wrenching film about humpback whales, shot in the Kingdom of Tonga by Upamanyu Das.
BLUE INDIA UNDERWATER IMAGERY COMPETITION
Taken by: Shinto K Anto
Taken in: Manilao, Philippines
General – In this category we invited underwater images of all types taken by any type of camera. The winning image was a macro image of a Pygmy Seahorse nestled in a fan coral.
Taken by: Palak Jain
Taken in: Maldives
Under 18s – This category was created to encourage young talent and ocean explorers of the country. The winning image was a lionfish captured by a 14 year old girl from Mumbai.
Taken by: Gaurav Patil
Taken in: Goa, India
Conservation – In this category we invited any image that portrayed a marine conservation issue, whether taken on land or underwater. The winning image was of a leopard ray being gutted by a fishermen on the shores of Margao.
Taken by: Palak Jain
Taken in: Maldives
Video – In this category we invited underwater videos under 4 minutes long. The winning entry was a beautiful, heart wrenching film about humpback whales, shot in the Kingdom of Tonga by Upamanyu Das.
The Blue India Underwater Imagery Competition has 4 main categories – General, Under 18s, Conservation and Video. The competition is only open to Indian Nationals. Featured here are the winners from 2019. We have currently paused this competition and will be announcing the next dates for submission of entries as soon as we are able.
