Campaigning

A natural beach benefits everyone
40% of the world's population lives within 100km of coastline. Turtle nesting grounds and entire marine eco-systems have come under threat from high levels of human activity all over the world.
In Watamu, the beach is a haven of commercial activity with sunbeds and stalls, similar to a small market in a village. High density developments, mostly tourist oriented, continue to spring up and are unfortunately destroying the precious foreshore reserve. This prevents female turtles from finding an appropriate nesting site on their natal beach. The noise, lights, sea walls, sunbeds and structures form barriers, making nesting extremely difficult and preventing hatchlings from reaching the sea.
With such development comes pollution, unsustainable use of resources such as extensive cutting of mangrove forests for construction, over fishing to meet the food demand and over crowding causing disturbance and destruction of coral gardens.
More ideas evolve to please the tourists, for example, plans to enclose marine mammals ,such as whale sharks, to provide an 'exceptional' experience to visitors.
LOT campaigns tirelessly to protect the rights of marine animals along the Kenyan coastline, urging all the stakeholders to have an affinity, understanding and respect for the ocean. We campaign for the Kenyan law to be followed to ensure that we do not squander our outstanding natural heritage, and we encourage responsible and sustainable tourism.
How can you help?
Don't turn a blind eye, stand up for conservation and natural environments.