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Communities in countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines and Ecuador will receive a share of £14 million (US$19 million) in United Kingdom (UK) funding for ocean conservation, said the government, reported PA Media/dpa. The money will support at least eight projects in areas facing some of the worst effects of climate change, as well as declining ocean health.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, among them is a project in Ecuador to install green LED lighting in fishing nets, which can be seen by turtles, sharks, rays, and whales, preventing their bycatch. Another initiative will support the company Eco Kolek to expand its inclusive waste recovery system to reach 12,000 households and small businesses across Puerto Princesa City and the neighbouring island communities in the Philippines. The Resiko Machine Shop will use the funding to roll out community-led, solar-powered recycling hubs, again in the Philippines, which will turn marine and household plasti c waste into products for local use and sale.

In Bangladesh, Badabon Sangho will receive money for its women-led fishing groups and cooperatives, who will work to restore habitats, promote sustainable fishing practices, and boost marine conservation. It is estimated that this will help to divert an estimated 1,100 tonnes of plastic away from landfill and the marine environment.

Nature minister Mary Creagh stated that the UK is leading efforts to put local people across the world at the heart of solutions to conserve the ocean they depend on for food, income, and protection from extreme weather. She highlighted the importance of these pioneering community-led projects in supporting families hardest hit by climate change, while also aiding in the protection of the global ocean for future generations.

The initiative is part of the second round of funding in the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme (Ocean), supporting the UK's efforts to tac kle climate change and global poverty. The first round has already helped to protect and restore more than 93,000 hectares of key ecosystems, which is about the size of 130,000 football pitches, according to ministers.

Jeremy Huet, conservation programme manager at the Zoological Society of London, which was among the recipients of funding in the first round, expressed enthusiasm about the continued investment into ocean conservation. He emphasized the significance of community-led projects in building a better future for people and nature, and stressed that every step taken to restore ocean health matters.