During the Covid-19 pandemic an increasing number of Maldivians started targeting protected and vulnerable reef fish. Run by Blue Marine and Maldives Resilient Reefs in 2020, #FishForTomorrow was a successful campaign to raise awareness about reef fish species – to make sure everyone has Fish for Tomorrow.
The campaign was particularly timely, as COVID-19 had resulted in a loss of jobs in the Maldives. With less income and more spare time on their hands, many Maldivians had turned to fishing for food, income and leisure. But it was clear that some remained unaware of the vulnerability of species such as giant clams and groupers.
The campaign carried this message from Maldives Resilient Reefs to their fellow islanders: Our reefs are our home. They protect us from the sea, they provide us with food and they bring us joy. We need to keep our reefs healthy so that they can continue to provide for us.
Fishing is in our culture but if we don’t fish in the right way then we may not be able to keep fishing for generations to come. By learning more about the species that live on our reefs, and which ones are vulnerable to fishing, you can help protect the reefs so that we can all #FishForTomorrow.
