Bay Of Life Foundation
Empowering Local Communities With Experiential Programs
Led by a team of environmentalists, zoologists and other experts, the Bay of Life Foundation promotes ocean conservation through research, education and sports. Launched in 2011, it’s the nonprofit arm of the Bay of Life Surf School, which offers nonmotorized ocean activities from surfing to snorkeling in Chennai, India. “People imagine big waves and chiseled bodies, but surfing isn’t really that,” says cofounder Showkath Jamal. “Anybody can try it. In India, the waves aren’t that big so it's beginner-friendly.”
How Bay Of Life Meets The SDG Pledge:
India has a massive “blue economy”—a system powered by the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth”— with marine fisheries contributing INR 650 billion every year and providing livelihoods for 4 million people. Partaking in India’s blue economy, Bay of Life’s vision overlaps with the following goals:
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 14: Life Below Water
VISION IN ACTION
The Bay of Life Foundation partners with corporate firms for beach cleanups, offering firm employees who volunteer a free surf lesson in exchange. Acknowledging that cleaning trash—which settles on the shore during each high tide—isn’t a long-term solution for healthier oceans, the foundation also runs an initiative to:
Implement trash-tagging programs to identify the source of the trash and prevent future buildups.
Set up floating trash barriers to collect hazardous materials like plastic, and recycle them, before they enter the sea.
Bay of Life reports that 4,500 children have benefited from its partnership with local schools, which brings the classroom to the coastline to educate students about marine life and foster discussion about eco-friendly career options.
Impact
23,500
Kg of trash cleaned
Surf-for-trash free lessons taught
2,800
Free ocean safety lessons provided
3,000
Because everything is underwater, we don’t see it at all, but the ocean controls a lot of things, from climate to oxygen. And a lot of livelihoods along the coast depend on the ocean.”
Showkath Jamal
Cofounder, Bay of Life Foundation & Bay of Life Surf School
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