The World Oceans Day commemorated on 8th June provides a unique opportunity once a year to honour our world’s ocean that connects us all. The World Oceans Day 2014 theme is “Together we have the power to protect the ocean”, focused on raising awareness and promoting personal and community action in fun and positive ways, leading to a more aware, engaged, and sustainable society, and a healthier ocean.

The John Keells Group supports the protection of the ocean and marine life through various initiatives.

John Keells Foundation, the CSR arm of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), sponsored Sri Lanka’s First Marine Conservation Conference, convened by the Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation (IOMAC) Secretariat. The one-day conference held on 14th December 2013 at the BMICH was attended by experts in the Marine Conservational field, with Minister of Wildlife Resources Conservation Hon. Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa as the Chief Guest. The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Jayanath Colombage, delivered the keynote Address.

The objective of the conference was to promote public-private partnership in marine conservation by bringing together specialist in the areas to discuss key issues, help with capacity building and strengthen and enforce initiatives on marine conservation.  It is also expected to create zonal marine conservational clusters where the initiatives can be implemented.

The Head of National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA),  Directors General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Wildlife Conservation,  Dean and Head of Oceanography Faculty – University of Ruhuna, dive specialists and other marine specialists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) were in attendance. The topics of discussions were on the conservation of coastal environments, dive wrecks, off shore industries, marine conservation areas, marine mammals, and tourism.

JKH through Cinnamon Hotels and their Naturalist team, Cinnamon Nature Trails supports the conservation of marine mammals with two projects – Wild Blue and Orca Project Sri Lanka (OPSL). Both projects employ a simple, inexpensive and yet effective method by which to study the two species. The general public is encouraged to share their information and images to contribute to the publicly available via on-line catalogues of Orca and Blue Whale individuals. There is also an on-line log of all orca encounters off Sri Lanka.

Both Wild Blue and OPSL use photo identification to identify individuals based on unique markings and characteristics. The tail or fluke of the Blue Whales bear scratches, scars and tears unique to each individual. The orcas can be identified using the shape, marks and notches on the dorsal fin as well as the different shapes of the white eye-patch.

The two initiatives are utilising social media platforms like Flickr and Facebook through which to share the catalogues and sightings details. The objective is for both projects to function as a library, where information can be contributed and accessed by all, whether for general interest or to complement scientific research.

For more information on the Wild Blue and OPSL please refer www.cinnamonnaturetrails.com