Our Future Waves Pilot Programme starts in Mentawai

Working with our partners Oceanwise Australia, we started Our Future Waves pilot programme in Mentawai. Supporting one of our former students James Syam and his colleagues in carrying out coral reef restoration at sites near their local surf breaks.

James, now 24 years old, started the project of his own initiative saddened by the deterioration of the coral reefs he has witnessed over the last decade when he first started snorkelling over them.

Now James, along with nine local friends, supported by ALF and Oceanwise are taking fragments of coral, attaching them to a plug and held in place by a metal mesh structure in a process known as micro-fragmentation. Initial trials are proving positive.

The next steps involve scaling the process with support from the Mentawai government and designating off-limit areas.

Seeing a former student take the lead on a project such as this is the best example of the impact our programmes have! Ayo James!