Canon expands ‘World Unseen’ initiative to Kenya in push to save coral reefs
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) has expanded its global conservation initiative, The World Unseen, into East Africa, partnering with Kenya’s Oceans Alive Foundation to leverage advanced imaging technology for the restoration of the region’s fragile coral reefs.
The regional chapter, officially launched in Mombasa last week, marks a significant step in Canon’s EMEA sustainability strategy. It combines science-led restoration with community capacity building to protect ecosystems that, while covering less than 1 percent of the ocean floor, support nearly a quarter of all marine life.
At the heart of this collaboration is the deployment of precision imaging technology to solve complex environmental challenges. Canon is equipping Oceans Alive with high-performance gear, including the EOS R8 and PowerShot G7 X Mark III cameras, complete with underwater housings and specialized lighting systems.
This equipment will move beyond simple documentation to serve as critical scientific tools. Researchers and community monitors will use them to capture high-resolution data on coral growth rates, bleaching events, fish recruitment, and overall reef structure. The visual data will allow for accurate monitoring of the ecosystem’s recovery, providing scientists with measurable insights that were previously difficult to obtain.
To complete the workflow, Canon is also providing professional printing solutions. These will enable Oceans Alive to transform raw scientific data into high-quality educational materials and public displays, bridging the gap between complex marine science and community awareness.
Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central and North Africa, emphasized the practical nature of the partnership. “The World Unseen in Kenya reflects our commitment to practical, science-based conservation that empowers communities,” Adukia said. “Paired with Oceans Alive’s local leadership, Canon’s imaging expertise will enable precise monitoring, credible storytelling, and stronger reef recovery efforts.”
The initiative builds on the success of Oceans Alive, a community-driven organization founded in 2018 and rooted in the Kuruwitu community on Kenya’s North Coast. Oceans Alive has been instrumental in reviving degraded reef patches and reintroducing thousands of coral fragments, working closely with local Beach Management Units to improve fish abundance and local livelihoods.
Under the new partnership, Canon will sponsor nursery tables and reef infrastructure to scale up the propagation and outplanting of thousands more coral fragments. The program is guided by Canon’s corporate philosophy of Kyosei, living and working together for the common good—and aims to foster local ownership of marine protection.
“We started in Kuruwitu with a bold belief, that communities are the true guardians of the sea,” said Des Bowden, Founder of Oceans Alive Foundation. “Through this valuable collaboration with Canon, we are making the invisible visible, documenting life above and beneath the waves with scientific accuracy. When people truly see the ocean, they value it. When they value it, they protect it.”
Beyond hardware, the collaboration places a heavy emphasis on skills transfer. Canon and Oceans Alive will roll out underwater photography workshops and youth-led media projects through the Canon Academy. These programs are designed to train student researchers and local storytellers to document Kenya’s marine environment effectively, ensuring that the conservation narrative is driven by the people who depend on the ocean most.
This Kenyan chapter follows Canon’s successful partnership with Nature Seychelles and Coral Spawning International, which established the first coral breeding facility in the Western Indian Ocean. By expanding into East Africa, the initiative aims to create a connected network of resilient marine ecosystems along the coast, securing both biodiversity and the food security of millions in coastal communities.
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