Green Fins initiative – implemented internationally by The Reef-World Foundation and the UN Environment Programme – reduces the negative environmental impacts associated with marine tourism. The initiative protects coral reefs through the only internationally recognised environmental standards for diving and snorkelling and robust assessments to measure compliance.

Green Fins encourages and empowers the diving industry to reduce the pressures on coral reefs by offering practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices and providing strategic training, support and resources. By reducing the local pressures tourism puts on coral reefs, it helps make corals healthier and more resilient to other stresses.

Melissa has been a certified Green Fins Assessor since April 2019 and is also a Green Fins Assistant Assessor Trainer. As part of this role, she supports training and capacity building for government and NGO staff in Green Fins teams around the world including:

• Carrying out 12+ Green Fins dive and snorkel assessments across tourism hotspots in Malaysia (Tioman Island), the Philippines (Malapascua, Anilao, Dauin) and Indonesia (Ambon, Bali)
• Supporting the training and capacity building of 18+ government staff as Green Fins assessors and coordinators in Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia
• Conducting a scoping trip to Okinawa to assess the possibility of launching Green Fins Japan