Seacology

“THE ORGANIZATION HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING POLICY:1) The draft of the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 be distributed toall members of the Seacology Board of Directors as a PDF file via email within 5 days of the deadline for submitting the Form 990 to taxing authorities (original or extended deadline); and 2) That the draft of the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 will be reviewed and approved by the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Director, and the Accounting Manager, each acting on behalf of the Board of Directors, prior to submitting the Form 990 to taxing authorities.”

“The following policy has been adopted by the organization: no member of the board of directors shall participate in any discussion or vote on any matter in which he or she or a member of his or her immediate family has potential conflict of interest due to having material economic involvement regarding the matter being discussed. When such a matter presents itself, the director must announce his or her potential conflict, disqualify himself or herself, and be excused from the meeting until discussion is over on the matter involved. The president of the meeting is expected to make an inquiry if such conflict appears to exist and the board member has not made it known.each member of the board of directors, employees and independent contracts (who receive more than $25,000 per year from seacology) shall annually sign a statement which affirms that such person:a. Has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy,b. Has read and understands the policy,c. Has agreed to comply with the policy,d. Disclose the existence of any potential conflicts of interest, ande. Understands seacology is a charitable organization and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.f. Seacology is concerned with conflicts of interest that create actual or potential job-related concerns, especially in the areas of confidentiality, donor relations, safety, security, and morale. If there is any actual or potential conflict of interest between you and a donor, competitor, supplier, vendor, or contractor to the organization, you must disclose it to your supervisor. If an actual or potential conflict of interest is determined to exist, the organization will take such steps as it deems necessary to reduce or eliminate this conflict.added by the executive director in september 2023:for employees and contractors (who receive more than $25,000 per year from seacology):conflicts of interest is a situation in which a person has a duty to more than one person or organization, but cannot do justice to the actual or potentially adverse interests of both parties. A conflict of interest arises where an employees personal interests or concerns or an employees immediate family members personal interests or concerns conflict (or gives the appears of a conflict) with the employers interests or concerns. Common conflicts of interest include: use of company information or equipment for personal gain. Self-dealing. Moonlighting. Receiving gifts from persons with whom the company does business. Reporting to a family member (nepotism).”

“The compensation committee reviews the compensation of the executive director. One compensation committee meeting is held per year.”

“The compensation committee reviews the compensation of officers and key employees with the exception of the accounting manager who is listed as an officer in part vii since they are the top financial employee per irs guidelines but otherwise they are not an officer of the organization. One compensation committee meeting is held per year.”

“Financial Reports: Seacology prepares an Annual Report and distributes it to the public via email, mail, and by posting it on Seacologys website. The Annual Report contains an unaudited ending-year statement of financial activites with a note that recommends the public contact the Seacology office mid-year to obtain a copy of audited financial statements. Seacology also distributes the Internal Revenue Services form 990 to the public by posting a copy to the Seacology website.Governing documents, and conflict of interest policy: Seacology distributes policies approved by the board of directors, including the conflict of interest policy, to staff in an employee manual and/or accounting manual, to the board of directors in a board handbook, and stores these policies along with governing documents in a readily accessable area of the main office for staff to provide to the public upon request.”

“Seacology's 2024 projects funded a variety of community benefits in return for various protections, including: 1. Replanting and protection of 7.5-acre eroded riparian area in brazil on cotijuba island in exchange for refurbishing of community hall and agroecology help.2. Protection of 2,471 acres of mangroves for 25 years in cameroon on manoka island in exchange for drinking water supply system, solar electrification kits, and training in soap-making.3. Protection of 64 acres of habitat of rare magellanic plover and other wildlife in chile on grand tierra del fuego island.4. Protection of 49 acres of restored mangroves in dominican republic bajo yuna mangroves national park in exchange for ranger station and office for surveillance and patrol of the park.5. Protection of 288 acres of tropical forest for 15 years in indonesia near cikidang village in exchange for new kindergarten and early childhood education center; monitoring post and equipment; coffee growing materials; native tree seedlings.6. Permanent 2,487-acre marine no-take zone in marshall islands on maloelap atoll in exchange for small building at airstrip.7. Restoration and protection of 2.6 acres of coral reef in mexico on isabel island in exchange for improved livelihoods for fishers beyond protected area.8. Seagrass replanting of 20 to 30 square-meter plots in a 5-acre area in spain on mallorca island.9. Conservation of 1,236-acre forest watershed for 20 years in philippines near sitio lapat in exchange for electricity from new micro-hydro facility.10. Support for 17 miles of wildlife conservation corridors in sri lanka's central highlands in exchange for creation of 15 conservation resource rooms at local schools, support for forest guardians youth education, and awareness training.11. Protection of 2,229 acres of marine habitat for 20 years in tanzania (zanzibar) on tumbatu island in exchange for new conservation information center and mariculture training.12. Public outreach campaign to stop tourism practices that harm endangered marine turtles in dutch caribbean on curacao.13. Preservation of critical reef builders in dutch caribbean on curacao in exchange for protection of ecosystem services, enhancing best practices among restoration practitioners.14. Provide funding to operate the lanka mangrove museum for one year in sri lanka.15. Advocacy for marae moana, the world's largest marine park in cook islands in exchange for youth ambassador program to advocate for cook islands marine conservation.16. Protection of 586 acres of seagrass ecosystems for 10 years in dominican republic near las calderas bay in exchange for strengthening of mangrove beekeepers cooperative and wildlife-based tourism, community awareness.17. Restoration and protection of five acres of mangroves for 10 years; hydrological restoration of over one-half mile of mangrove channel; waste management and conservation training in el salvador on san sebastian island in exchange for environmental and waste management education and training in ecological mangrove rehabilitation, support for women's small business initiatives, fence for school sports field.18. Protection and enhancement of 136 coastal marine acres; composting; outreach on endangered turtle protection for 15 years in honduras on san carlos island in exchange for water collection and storage systems for 30 families.19. Continued protection of 300,000-acre no-take marine area in indonesia near gamta and magei villages in exchange for new kindergarten for two villages.20. Protection of 19,185 acres, including 7,230 acres of primary forest, for 15 years in madagascar near ambalaomby commune in exchange for secondary school; training and materials for coffee cultivation.21. Protection and reforestation of 2,348 acres of forest, habitat of critically endangered tortoises and lemurs, for 10 years in madagascar near villages of malaintsatroke, mahazoarivo, and ala mahevelo in exchange for gear for patrols; native plant nurseries, environme”

“Mohammed kolugege served in his local government for 32 years as a field assistant in the fisheries department, teacher, and information officer. During his tenure, he passionately spread environmental awareness to people of all generations with creativity and compassion and helped to implement eco-friendly pole and line tuna fisheries throughout the lakshadweeps. He also advocatedagainst stiff resistanceto save shipwrecks off the coast of minicoy, which had been colonized by thriving corals and other sea creatures. Preserving them protects both the islands maritime heritage and its valuable marine ecosystems. The community designated these shipwreck sites as no-take areas as part of a seacology project in 2009. Today they are some of the best scuba diving sites in minicoy.in addition to his official work, mohammed kolugege has been a driving force behind the revival of the unique folk songs and dances of minicoy. A creative writer and lyricist, he has even adapted these songs to advocate for environmental protection, and they are performed in schools and at village functions across the island. Recently, a song he wrote about the mesmerizing beauty of the coral islands was released at a grand function in kavaratti, the capital of lakshadweep. He is the only person from minicoy island to have received the best folk song award from the lakshadweep sahitya kala academy.mohammed kolugege has received other accolades as well. In 2013, the indian government awarded him the indira gandhi paryavaran puraskar award for outstanding contributions in the field of environmental protection. He was also chosen to attend the iucn world conservation congress as a community leader from minicoy island to learn more about locally managed marine areas, and bring his new knowledge back to his island.since retiring from government service, mohammed kolugege has continued to serve his community as a social worker, conservationist, and musician. He collects and preserves many irreplaceable artifacts and relics from minicoy island that could have otherwise been lost. These artifacts are now safely housed in the maliku museum, which was built with financial support from seacology, and are appreciated by both visitors and community members.this prestigious recognition has made me proud and happy, mohammed kolugege said after he learned of his selection for the seacology prize. I now feel a greater responsibility for the preservation of our museums collection as well.k.g. Mohammeds advocacy for minicoys fragile ecosystems and his commitment to preserving its unique history and traditions truly reflect seacologys core values, said seacology executive director duane silverstein. This years seacology prize is a much-deserved international recognition of his tireless work, which is a model for grassroots conservation leaders around the world.”