Papua New Guinea (PNG) harbors some of the world’s greatest marine biodiversity. A single bay in PNG has more coral species than the entire Caribbean. The health of PNG’s coral ecosystems, however, is threatened by damage from boat anchors and chains. To mitigate this damage, the local nonprofit organization Mahonia Na Dari (“guardians of the sea”) and the PNG Divers’ Association have begun to install mooring buoys in fragile reef areas throughout the country.

Seacology’s grant covers the cost of equipment that local residents need to install 200 mooring buoys. In order to ensure the long-term protection of PNG’s marine biodiversity, Mahonia Na Dari supplements the buoy project with a marine education program for indigenous Papua New Guineans. Seacology funds also help with the production and distribution of educational materials to schools in PNG.