ReefWatch Marine Conservation

ReefWatch Marine Conservation ReefWatch is an NGO based out of Mumbai, India, working on marine conservation through research, education and management.

ReefWatch Marine Conservation is a Non Government Organization established in 1993, by Prahlad and Mitali Kakar. Since its inception, Reefwatch has been involved in research, education and outreach activities that have included coral reef monitoring projects in the Lakshadweep Archipelago and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, awareness drives and documentary films, beach clean ups in Mumbai, SCUBA tr

aining for scientists and managers on the islands, and school programs in various schools around the country. In recognition of its efforts and expertise, ReefWatch was invited to be a Member of the National Board for Wildlife (Government of India) in May 2007, and has served on the board since then. ReefWatch has had the privilege of working with many dedicated and inspiring individuals in the fields of science, government, filmmaking, photography and the media. Its efforts have always been targeted towards protecting and nurturing the diversity of life in India’s coastal and marine environments.

13/08/2026

For sea turtles under rehabilitation, breathing rate is an important indicator of health and recovery. Frequent surfacing can indicate stress or respiratory issues, while unusually infrequent breathing can indicate reduced activity and increased the risk of drowning.

A stable breathing pattern is an important indicator that a turtle has regained the physiological capacity needed to dive, surface, and safely return to the wild.

If you come across a stranded marine animal, please report it to our MATSYA Helpline at +91 6360249764

Video credits: Manohar Nagre

We attended a Humpback dolphin stranding, upon necropsy we discovered the stomach had 5.2 kg monofilament net.Dolphin po...
12/08/2026

We attended a Humpback dolphin stranding, upon necropsy we discovered the stomach had 5.2 kg monofilament net.

Dolphin pods, swim towards commercial fishing nets as they are accumulated with prey.
But these thin nylon nets are practically invisible underwater, turning an easy snack into a lethal trap. When dolphins swoop in to steal fish, they often accidentally swallow pieces of the plastic net, causing permanent gastric blockages.
Even worse, abandoned "ghost nets" float blindly through the ocean. They continue to trap fish, acting as unintended bait that lures dolphins into swallowing the gear, resulting in a slow, agonizing starvation.
Fighting at the Grassroots in collaboration with Harit by HCLFoundation !
To tackle this crisis at its source, our initiative actively collects ghost nets from fishers across Karnataka.
Reducing abandoned ghost net in the sea!

Thank you Karnataka Forest Department for your support

10/08/2026

Do you have nosey co-workers?

Well, ours happen to be Thalassoma lunare the moon wrasse.

Every time we descend onto our coral restoration structures, these curious wrasses are the first to greet us. They follow us around, inspect our work, and seem particularly interested in whether we’re doing a good job cleaning the structures.

But what exactly are they looking for? As we clean the structures, small invertebrates can get dislodged from the surfaces. And the moon wrasses are more than happy to take advantage of the opportunity for a meal. They follow us from structure to structure, picking off any tasty invertebrates we disturb along the way.

06/08/2026

This is Bobby, a Masked B***y who was stranded ashore this monsoon - weak and unable to fly. Bobby was admitted to our Goa transit centre, and after receiving supportive care, was healthy enough to return to the wild.

Despite being deemed medically fit for release, seabirds often need a bit of time to readjust and regain their confidence to fly. But once they’re convinced that their wings will sustain them in the air, they take off, disappearing into the horizon.

If you come across a stranded or injured marine animal, report it to the MATSYA Helpline at +91 6360249764

Video credits: ~•~

Corals don’t just lose their colour when they bleach. Bleaching happens when corals are under stress, most commonly beca...
03/08/2026

Corals don’t just lose their colour when they bleach.

Bleaching happens when corals are under stress, most commonly because ocean temperatures become too warm. In response, they expel the tiny algae (zooxanthellae) living inside their tissues. These algae not only give corals their vibrant colours but also provide most of the food and energy they need to survive. Without them, the coral turns white and becomes weak.

As our oceans continue to warm due to climate change, marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe, making coral bleaching one of the biggest threats to reefs around the world.

But it’s not all bad news. Bleached corals are still alive, and if water temperatures return to normal quickly enough, they can recover by taking in new zooxanthellae.However, if the heat stress continues for too long, the coral dies, and its skeleton is taken over by algae, tunicates and other marine organisms.

Every rescue, every release and every reef restored begins with people like you. Whether it’s donating old towels, makin...
01/08/2026

Every rescue, every release and every reef restored begins with people like you.

Whether it’s donating old towels, making a financial contribution or volunteering your time every action can make a difference.

If you’d like to help, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us through the link in our bio or send us a message.

supportconservation

Img 1- Sumer Verma
Img 2- Tanuj Mark
Img 4,7 Manohar Nagre
Img 6- Jodanne Pereira

29/07/2026

Rehabilitation is more than healing an injury—it's rebuilding to survive in the wild.
Over the past three months, through the combined efforts of our veterinary doctors and researchers, along with patient care, enrichment, and rehabilitation, this sea turtle A.K.A Jet has recovered. Today, it confidently dives and feeds on its own. Teaching us resilience.🐢

Thanks to the forest department Karnataka Forest Department for supporting us.

22/07/2026

Many of the marine strandings we encountered last week bear the devastating scars of ghost net entanglement.
A stark reminder that treating injured wildlife is only a temporary fix for a systemic crisis. Ghost net as a threat remains active in our oceans. To tackle this issue at its root, we have partnered with the HCL Foundation to proactively remove these abandoned fishing nets from our waters by collecting ghost net from fishermen and they are compensated for their contribution.
Thank you to HCL foundation Harit by HCLFoundation for supporting in removal of ghost net, a lethal threat to Marine Life. Thank you to forest department Karnataka Forest Department for actively reporting stranding of Marine megafauna at our coastline.

16/07/2026

Many of the conditions that prevent a stranded sea turtle from returning to the ocean can't be diagnosed through an external examination alone.

X-rays provide a quick, non-invasive, and cost-effective way to look beneath the carapace and assess the internal conditions that influence treatment and recovery. They can reveal lung disease, buoyancy disorders, gastrointestinal obstructions such as plastics, and ingested fishing hooks.

15/07/2026

What you're looking at isn't beach litter.

It's plastic that passed through the digestive tract of a juvenile Green Sea Turtle rescued just last week.

Among the fragments were the corner of a milk packet, a plastic seal, several larger pieces of plastic, and bits of foam or sponge material. While this turtle was fortunate enough to expel these items, many sea turtles aren't as lucky. Plastic can cause blockages, internal injuries, reduce food intake, create a false sense of fullness, and, in severe cases, become fatal.

Sea turtles often mistake floating plastic for food as algae can coat these fragments leading to accidental ingestion while feeding on seagrass, algae, jellyfish, or other prey. Once inside, even small pieces can remain in the gut for long periods and affect their ability to feed and survive.

Every piece of plastic we refuse, reuse, recycle, and dispose of responsibly is one less piece that could end up in the ocean and inside an animal like this.

The plastic we throw away doesn't disappear. For marine life, it often comes back as their next meal.

Address

Bungalow 14 C, Boran Road, Off Hill Road, Bandra West
Mumbai
400050

Telephone

+919531997261

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