Environment
CHAMPIONS OF THE SEA
HOW PNG WOMEN ARE HELPING SAVE CORAL REEFS BY MARY ASEARI | PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED BY THE SEA WOMEN OF MELANESIA
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Women around the world are making a mark in fields previously seen to be male dominated, the field of science included. The Sea Women of Melanesia (SWOM) is an exceptional example of Papua New Guinean women making an impact in marine conservation. SWOM gives women in the South Pacific skills to monitor the health of coral reefs, and create and restore marine protected areas. The organisation, headquartered in Port Moresby, is unique in that it not only uses science but combines gender equity and sustainability in its work with traditional landowners to develop marine reserves to enhance fisheries and biodiversity. Since its inception in 2016, SWOM’s marine conservation work has been in an area known as the Coral Triangle. The triangle covers about 5.7 million 40 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022
square kilometres between the Great Barrier Reef, Melanesia and South-East Asia. Home to countless marine species, it is one of the world’s premier destinations for underwater tourism and home to a major fisheries industry. According to SWOM, it is also threatened by the surging human population, waste levels and climate change. The good news, says SWOM, is that coral reefs are resilient and can recover if the marine environment is safeguarded. SWOM aims to combat marine degradation by empowering indigenous women with the education, skills and resources needed to take an active role in raising awareness about the problem, as well as creating and monitoring marine protected areas on their local coral reefs. The sea women are, at the same time, changing
