OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Sandals Foundation, in collaboration with a number of agencies including the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA), has embarked on an initiative aimed at educating the public about the importance of protecting the environment and coral reef conservation.

The awareness programme kicked off at the Island Village Plaza here in Ocho Rios this week with close to 400 students from a number of primary, preparatory and high schools from St Ann and St Mary participating in a range of environmental awareness activities to mark World Oceans Day.

Heidi Clarke, director of programmes for Sandals Foundation, said the awareness programme, which will also target fisherfolk, will be extended to a number of other parishes and will run for several weeks.

“We are trying to do what we can to play our part in marine preservation, one of the biggest aspects of that is to make people understand what is happening in our ocean and why we have to play our part, and what we need to do to play our part,” Clarke said.

The ministry of agriculture and fisheries is also involved in the initiative.

“This show is going to travel across Jamaica for the next two months and we are going to appeal to schoolchildren, community leaders, fishermen, whoever wants to know about it, we are going to invite them to be a part of this show,” she added.

She said it is important for fisherfolk and other people involved in the fishing industry to understand why certain areas in the ocean are being protected and preserved as sanctuaries and why they should not be disturbed.

“It’s actually about providing an area that is being protected that we can study, so we can see why our reefs here in Jamaica are in the condition they are in, and what difference we can make,” Clarke said.

“We are going to provide an area that fish have a shelter that they can breathe and the overspill will affect the communities.”

Clarke explained that it is important that people be educated about the environment and marine protection and if preserved, the contribution it can make to the development of the country, particularly through tourism.

“We are getting involved in as much as we can, to make a difference in the marine sector,” Clarke said.

Sandals Foundation has already established several marine sanctuaries including one at Beaches Boscobel in St Mary.

Meanwhile, environmental officer with the eco system management branch at NEPA, Monique Curtis said her agency is delighted to join with Sandals Foundation and other agencies to sensitise students and members of the public about marine life.

“We are telling them of the various activities that can impact the ocean and how they can help to reduce the impact on these oceans; we are also telling them of various threats that are local, such as the invasion by invasive species such as the lion fish,” said Curtis.

She said when children are informed they can take the information to their peers at school and also to relatives and friends in their different communities and that this will significantly give support to the awareness programme.

St John’s Preparatory student Robert Johnson hailed the initiative as a very informative and important one. He said much of the information which was passed through a documentary on the ocean and coral life was new to him and other students.

“Our environment is precious and we shouldn’t do any thing to tamper with it. Fishing depends on coral reefs and coral reefs depend on fishing, so it is important that we protect it,” Johnson said.

Environment, health and safety manager at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Craig Clarke (right) talks to students from St John’s Prep about preserving the environment and coral reefs during an expo at Island Village in Ocho Rios Tuesday.