Sea of Change Artivism Contest
www.pangeaseed.com
2019
In the spring Pangeaseed launched the "Sea of Change" ARTivism Contest, calling on young artists from across the globe to submit works of art that highlighted at least one of six pressing marine environmental issues (overfishing, plastic pollution, coastal development, warming seas, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss).
From among talented, emerging ARTivists from 29 countries this work was one of ten winners who would be featured at our art print retrospective and fundraiser at the Volcom Garden gallery in Austin, Texas.
Exploitative overfishing has become one of the biggest concerns to Sri Lanka's oceans. Our once beautiful and plentiful oceans have been depleted and destroyed by years of wasteful and destructive fishing practices. The fishing industry sends the vast majority of the catch for export purposes, and ultimately due to these unsustainable practices both coral reef and fish are suffering.In areas like Kalpitiya, along the West Coast of Sri Lanka, illegal fishing boats have been known to use 'Purse Nets' to bottom trawl along the base of the reefs. This practice has been banned since early last year although still there is evidence that fishermen, both local and Indian, have been continuing to do so. These nets are only permitted to be used offshore, but instead are being used directly on the reef, raking up everything along the bed of the coral reef causing massive habitat destruction and unnecessary loss of biodiversity in large scale.
