Field representative Vineeta Hoon visited the island in April to wrap up this project. The museum building now both highlights the area’s natural history and displays and preserves cultural artifacts. Schoolchildren (from local communities and the mainland), tourists, and college students are visiting it. Community members are holding environmental education events and working with the Department of Environment and Forests.

The building has been completed, including woodwork, floor tiling, painting and wiring. Our partner, the Maliku Development Society, and the Fishers Association continue to campaign against gill net use in the lagoon.

The ground floor, which houses the main museum, is functional, and wiring in the additional rooms should be finished in January 2015. Our partner, the Maliku Development Society, has conducted beach clean-up and awareness activities, and the Fishermen’s Association has been campaigning against gill net use in the lagoon. A few fishermen have been noting fish catch data in cooperation with another NGO called Dakshi. India Field Representative Vineeta Hoon plans a site visit soon.

The first floor of the museum, including wood work, is finished. Tiling of the floor began in December, but they ran out of tiles and had to order more from the mainland. Still to be done: Electrification of the first floor and fixing glass shutters on the display cabinets. All materials had reached Minicoy as of May, and the work was to be completed by June. On the conservation front, MDS continues to petition the administration in hopes of stopping net fishing in the lagoon.

The outer building work and the flooring have been completed. A staircase is proposed to reach the terrace and make it usable. The building has been handed over to the Maliku Development Society (MDS). The members have volunteered to clear the building premises and cut steps into the hillock to reach the building. MDS members have collected artifacts to display in the museum. The display units have yet to be built and the finishing touches need to be given to the building. Conservation work is ongoing. The rope holding the marker buoys to mark the no-take zone within the lagoon was cut by some miscreants in the first week of April. Cable TV aired a news item about it, which resulted in recovering five of the six buoys. The Fishermen’s Association has now replaced the marker buoys within the lagoon and is carrying out awareness work on the need for the marker buoys. A music CD called Hewalla, Rhythms of Maliku, featuring environmental songs, was produced with financial help from CARESS and released in March.

As construction of the museum has progressed, several families have provided antique pieces to the museum. These artifacts need to be kept securely on display in locked cabinets. In June 2011, Seacology’s board of directors approved an additional grant for the construction of display units and showcases, as well as two additional rooms to house an office, store, and toilet for the Natural and Cultural History Museum. In return, the community agreed to protect the existing 2,471-acre marine and mangrove reserve for an additional 10 years, for a total of  20 years.

Vineeta Hoon reports that the building work is progressing well after the monsoon. The column work was completed in May 2010 and the ceiling slab was installed in September 2010. In October, the walls were built, and a rain water storage tank was dug under the floor of the building. A banner in front of the building construction site informs the public that this building is being constructed with a grant from Seacology in exchange for the creation of the protected area. The Minicoy fishermen, with support from CARESS, have installed six marker buoys in the lagoon; five are marker buoys for the no-take area, and the sixth is a mooring buoy. As part of the conservation and awareness efforts, CARESS held a workshop to train women in making souvenirs and toys with a marine theme, made with leftover fabric from the women’s homes. The women learned how to make templates of the animals, and cut, sew, and stuff their creations. They also learned about the importance of each creature in the ecosystem, and received a coral reef knowledge certificate, and took on a trip in a glass bottomed boat at the conclusion of the workshop. The women have created a self-help group and will make these souvenirs for additional income. Teachers and students participated in activities such as games and a field trip to learn more about coral reefs, mangroves etc., and about how these ecosystems can be restored with a little help from humans.

Vineeta Hoon reports that the community has completed the concrete work on the pillars and the roof will soon be laid. The building is progressing as scheduled.

Field representative Vineeta Hoon reports that the foundation ceremony was conducted on January 19; the land was cleared and made ready to begin construction. However, construction was delayed until electricity was installed in the first week of March. Once this was accomplished, community members installed a water pump and built a temporary shed to store the immediately required materials. Earth clearing, trenching, and reinforcement of the pillars have been completed. The project contact believes that by the end of April column work will be completed.

The environment warden organized a shore and lagoon clean up, and the Maliku Development Society conducted an environment awareness meeting for families in April. Three fishermen are monitoring fish catch and reef related activity. An underwater survey of the shipwrecks in the lagoon was conducted in January. Photos taken at all the sites will be used for developing communication and awareness materials to emphasize why these areas need to be protected.

Field representative Samit Sawhny reports that the building plan has been completed. Samit met with the project coordinator who said that the labor and construction material is in place and they plan to start on the foundation this month.

The land for the museum was purchased during the first week of August 2009. The land has been cleared, and the community is ready to begin construction. Three local villagers with homes on the shore where the protected area can be observed have volunteered to keep watch and are maintaining a log of daily activities. In addition a poster of the area being protected has been prepared in both English and the local Mahal language. Copies of this poster will be displayed on every village notice board and other prominent places to promote public awareness of the conservation efforts.

As of February 2009 field representative Samit Sawhny began working on coordinating completion of the pre-grant documentation and planning phases for the project. Seacology sent grant documents directly to project leaders to retrieve signatures in March 2009. As of early April 2009 communication is down on the island and the project leader is currently waiting for notification from the site that they are ready to begin the project and plans have been solidified. Additionally, Mr. Sawhny will visit Lakshadweep in July or August 2009. A Seacology delegation will also visit the site in January 2010.