Cartoon contest raises awareness on coral reefs |21 October 2013

Winners of a school cartoon competition organised earlier this year to encourage students to demonstrate their knowledge of coral reef ecosystem conservation have been rewarded.
The contest forms part of the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (Edge) coral project.

The Edge project is to educate the local public about the importance of corals and coral reefs to our Seychellois way of life.

It aims at showing the role of coral reefs in the fisheries and tourism sectors and for the protection of coastal areas, as well as the threats that coral reefs face, and encouraging coral reef conservation.

The Edge coral project is focused on mapping Edge corals within the inner granitic islands and providing data on the condition of these corals within Seychelles’ water.

The prize-giving ceremony was held last week at the Natural History Museum Carnegie Hall and was attended by representatives of the Seychelles National Parks Authority, sponsors, teachers and students.

Categories for the competition were: P4-P6, S1-S3 and S4-S5.

Students in the first category had the task of creating cartoons that show the role of marine parks in conserving coral reefs and highlighting the problems marine park management face in carrying out this role.

Those in the S1-S3 category had to work on the importance of preserving coral species both inside and outside marine parks and how local people and visitors can help protect these fragile ecosystems.

The last category had to show that while coral reefs are ecologically important, they face a number of threats which prevent them from carrying out their ecological functions.

For the P4-P6 category, Josie Bonne from Anse Etoile primary was the first prize winner followed by Elijah Wirtz from the same school in second position.

Third prize went to Aaron Dogley from Beau Vallon primary, while Lisa Albest from Anse Etoile primary received a prize for special effort.

In the S1-S3 category, Darius Lespoir was first followed by Daniel Vidot both from Beau Vallon secondary.

Special effort in this category went to Arnold Mein and Rebecca Hoareau.

Beau Vallon secondary school was awarded a prize for best effort.

Shane Pierre from La Digue school is the first prize winner in the last category – S4-S5 – followed by Sylvie Robert from Beau Vallon secondary.

La Digue school and Beau Vallon secondary received the special school awards.

Those attending the ceremony had the chance to view an exhibition which was showcasing the cartoons.