Canon’s World Unseen Initiatives Show Mother Nature Is Healing

May 8, 2026: Two stories coming from around the world show how communities can come together to truly create healing.

First, from Sussex, England. We may have all heard about “fracking,” an invasive and highly destructive practice of extracting oil. Fewer of us may be familiar with bottom trawling. The extreme nature of the practice has devastated marine life along the Sussex Coast, including more than 95% of Sussex’s kelp forests.

Well, March 16 marked the five-year anniversary of Sussex’s Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) ban on bottom trawling. As a result of the ban (known as the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw) and the efforts of the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP), fish nurseries are seeing a resurgence. Black Sea Bream and mussel beds are slowly starting to revive, with new populations stretching more than a kilometer (a little more than half a mile) along the coast.

“I’ve seen mussel beds covering huge areas, and it’s these structures that young kelp spores will attach onto,” Dr. Ray Ward, Reader in Marine Sciences at Queen Mary University of London, said, emphasizing that “these first shifts matter.”

On to initiatives in North and East Africa, specifically in Kenya. Many of us grew up hearing about the seemingly endless disappearance of the coral reef ecosystem, which supports nearly 25% of all marine life on the planet. A partnership between digital photography giant Canon Central and North Africa and Kenya’s Oceans Alive Foundation has resulted in revolutionary imaging technology to help educate people about and heal the destruction of the reef.

Canon’s World Unseen 2.0 initiative was a catalyst in reef restoration efforts in the Seychelles. This new Oceans Alive chapter in Kenya extends as far as the North Coast and the community of Kuruwitu. The results have been extremely promising. With Canon’s digital technology, scientists will be able to collect data about coral size, survival rates, and ecosystem recovery over time. 

“The World Unseen in Kenya reflects our commitment to practical, science-based conservation that empowers communities,” said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central and North Africa. “Paired with Oceans Alive’s local leadership, Canon’s imaging expertise will enable precise monitoring, credible storytelling, and stronger reef recovery efforts.” 

In a time where it seems so many people are divided, it’s important to remember that it’s community that truly changes the world. The efforts in Sussex and East Africa prove that with a common goal we can come together to fulfill the dream of a better planet for future generations.

---

Before you go…

Reset the Algorithm
Share one good story today.

For far too long, the internet has been fueled by outrage. We think it can run on something better. Join us, share a good story from The Bright Side, and help us reset the algorithm that determines what trends on the internet.