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  • 23 May 2018

Manado, Indonesia – 23 May 2018 – Recognizing the importance of ocean conservation and raising awareness to protect the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI-CFF) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are preparing for the annual Coral Triangle Day on June 9, 2018.

This year’s CT Day continues to focus on raising awareness of the impacts of plastic pollution on the marine environment and the destructive wastefulness of single-use plastics such as straws, coffee cup lids, cotton buds, and product packaging.

According to research published in Science, among the top 20 countries contributing plastic to the oceans are China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. China contributes approximately 1.32–3.52 million tonnes annually, and Indonesia contributes around 0.5–1.3 million tonnes per year. These plastics can get caught in corals, affecting the health of reef ecosystems.

Of particular concern is microplastics pollution, which enters marine life and eventually the human food chain through seafood, tap water, and other foods. As microplastics are pervasive and persistent, they have become a global environmental concern and a potential risk to human health.

In 2017, the #SayNo2Plastic Instagram contest attracted 1,056 creative entries, generated over 250,000 Facebook posts, more than 6 million tweets, and nearly 4 million Instagram shares across the region.

Building on this success, WWF and CTI-CFF continue their collaboration with the #plasticresistance Instagram contest, aiming to create an impactful and ongoing campaign to reduce plastic usage in the region.

CTI-CFF member countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste — and their development partners are encouraged to participate in national events for Coral Triangle Day. Public events include beach cleanups, bazaars, fashion shows, sustainable seafood dinners, exhibitions, ocean film festivals, and more. These activities aim to educate the public, promote small lifestyle changes, and put pressure on plastic manufacturers.

Further details on the Instagram competition and Coral Triangle Day 2018 celebrations are available at www.coraltriangleday.org.

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See the event here:
http://coraltriangleinitiative.org/events/coral-triangle-day-1

About CTI-CFF

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (CT6). The CT6 countries work together to preserve marine and coastal resources and address critical issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity. Established during the Leaders’ Summit in 2009, CTI-CFF adopted the CTI Regional Plan of Action (CTI RPOA), a strategic plan with five goals: (1) designation of effectively managed seascapes; (2) application of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management; (3) establishment of a fully functional marine protected area system; (4) strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience; and (5) improving the status of threatened marine species.

About Regional Secretariat

The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat (RS) promotes regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and learning within the six member countries. The RS coordinates and monitors the implementation of RPOA goals, supports official meetings and events, and provides services in monitoring and evaluation, financial coordination, information management, and outreach. It advises National Coordinating Committees (NCCs) on priorities, fosters networking among CTI Partners and donors, and serves as the communication hub for CTI-CFF objectives. The Regional Secretariat is based in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

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Media Contact:

  • Janet Rosalie Anne H. Polita
  • Communication & Information Manager, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
  • www.coraltriangleinitiative.org
  • jpolita@cticff.org