Coral reefs are unique ecosystems, biologically rich and complex--so complex that they are sometimes referred to as the "rainforests of the ocean." Pollution, disease, invasive species and stupid tourists, can destroy them. The decline in the number and quality of coral reefs can destabilize the world's ecology and ultimately have a negative impact on the economy. Coral reefs control the amount of carbon dioxide in the oceans. This is what makes coral reefs so very, very important to the food chain. There are several things you can do to help protect coral reefs.
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Part 1 of 3: Be a Responsible Tourist
Step 1. Avoid hitting or touching coral reefs
Crashing a boat into a coral reef can cause serious damage. Protection of coral reefs depends on what experts call proper "ship management". Know where the reefs are so your boat doesn't hit them, even accidentally. People can also damage coral reefs just by touching.
- Reefs on corals are actually small animals. This living ecosystem is very fragile and very easily damaged. Animals on coral reefs don't move, but that doesn't mean they aren't alive. They live in colonies, and have a skeleton made of hard calcium carbonate. This is what gives structure to coral reefs.
- Remember how your feet beat and where you stand. Control the frog's feet when diving or snorkeling, so as not to accidentally touch the coral reefs.
Step 2. Do not fish or sail near coral reefs
Contact with anchors and fishing nets will inevitably cause coral reefs to die or be damaged.
- Do not moor the boat on coral reefs. Moor your boat in a shallow area of sand, or use a special mooring. You can also use a float attached to the boat instead of an anchor.
- Fishing nets, nets and fishing hooks can all damage coral reefs. This is one reason why you should fish elsewhere. Check where the coral reefs are before exploring the ocean.
- Do not dump waste from your ship into the ocean. Find the correct waste disposal facility in the area.
Step 3. Do not litter on the beach or the sea
Disposing of objects such as fishing nets or general trash on the beach can damage coral reefs. Throwing garbage into the sea also eventually makes the garbage stuck in the coral reefs.
- Trash trapped will suffocate coral reefs. Remember that coral reefs are living things. Sometimes people equate reefs with sea shells. However, because reefs are living things, they are easily harmed.
- Disposing of litter can also damage or even kill the fish that inhabit coral reefs. The technical term for this type of waste is "marine debris". Marine debris also damages other organisms on coral reefs, which are essential for their survival.
- A number of organizations sponsor beach clean-ups. If you help clean up trash on the beach, in addition to not littering yourself, you will help protect coral reefs.
Step 4. Snorkel and dive carefully
Many people like to snorkel near coral reefs because of their unique beauty. Snorkelers and divers can seriously damage coral reefs, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
- Never pull off any part of the coral reef, to carry. They say you should only leave air bubbles and take photos home when you're out in the ocean. Remember that what you are doing is destroying living organisms, if indeed taking a piece of coral reef.
- Practice snorkelling before exploring near coral reefs, so as not to accidentally touch them.
- Stay horizontal in the water and don't kick the sand at the bottom or kick wildly with the frog's shoe. Don't swim too fast or use flapping arms when swimming.
- If you touch a coral reef, you can also get injured. Many people were stabbed and stung by coral reefs.
- Don't get too close to the reef while wearing a thick sunscreen. The oil from the lotion can damage coral reefs.
Step 5. Don't buy reef souvenirs
You can't take anything alive from the ocean, or buy it in a store. In some countries, there are many jewelry and other souvenirs made from reefs. Don't buy.
- Some countries prohibit reefs from being sold. Reefs can take a very long time to grow back. So, taking it just for aquarium decoration or jewelry box can have very long repercussions, which can take years to heal.
- Red and pink corals are highly prized for jewelry because of their unique colors. This species usually comes from deep water.
- Don't buy reef fish either. Ask about marine fish before you buy them at the pet store. We recommend buying aquarium fish that are bred in captivity.
Step 6. Choose a hotel that supports nature conservation
The existence of a hotel can have a major impact on the environment. The average position is built on the beach and a lot of people walking in and out. Support hotels that have specific policies to reduce pollution.
- Hotels that have waste management programs and offer recycling services and other conservation measures can help protect coral reefs by improving the overall quality of the surrounding environment.
- Reef-related tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry, so it would obviously make a huge difference if more hotels were pressured by customers to adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
Part 2 of 3: Reducing Environmental Damage
Step 1. Practice common conservation practices
Coral reefs will be damaged if the quality of the surrounding environment decreases. So you can help protect coral reefs simply by maintaining a lifestyle that preserves the environment.
- Plant a tree. Trees reduce runoff into the ocean, and runoff can damage coral reefs.
- Reduce carbon footprint. This is very important. Increased carbon dioxide in the air can trigger global warming, which in turn will damage coral reefs. Everything is interrelated. Ways to reduce your carbon footprint include cycling to work and wearing a clothesline.
- Save water. This will help reduce runoff, which is a major means of destroying coral reefs.
- Use organic fertilizers to avoid chemicals entering the ecosystem. Don't think the chemicals in your garden or plantation won't go into the ocean just because you don't live near the ocean.
Step 2. Avoid setting up construction and construction sites near offshore
Some coral reefs are located close offshore. They can be damaged by various aspects of land development and construction, including construction of marinas, ports, and plowing of land.
- When sediments and sediments slide off due to construction and construction and end up in the ocean, this can block sunlight and kill reefs, because reefs need sunlight to grow and thrive.
- Sediment can bury a reef, killing it or stopping its growth altogether.
- Metals, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals associated with mining activities as well as runoff from waste land, agriculture, and urban development projects, can damage surrounding reefs and fish.
Step 3. Fight global warming
The general deterioration of the environmental situation is an indirect way of human action causing damage to coral reefs. Coral reefs are very sensitive to rising water temperatures, which can be damaging. Reducing carbon footprint also helps stop global warming.
- Even a one degree increase in water temperature is enough to damage coral reefs. Reef bleaching is a leading indicator of unhealthy coral reef conditions, and this has been increasing since the 1980s. Algae in corals gives the reef its distinctive color, and coral bleaching occurs when the algae are lost or die.
- Warmer sea temperatures can also stimulate the growth of algae that are harmful to coral reefs because they block the sunlight they need to grow.
- As the oceans heat up, they contain more carbon dioxide. This slows the growth of coral reefs because it makes it harder for the reef to make calcium carbonate-based skeletons or bones.
Part 3 of 3: Helping Educate Communities about Coral Reefs
Step 1. Boycott destructive fishing methods
If you eat fish caught by destroying coral reefs, you are part of the problem. Not using products obtained from environmentally destructive activities is one way to help protect coral reefs. Know which fish are caught by damaging the reef, then spread them out.
- In some countries, people blow up coral reefs with explosives to make it easier to catch fish that gather around them. Then they sell the fish to restaurants and shops.
- Other emerging fishing methods include applying cyanide into the water to stun fish. It kills the surrounding coral reefs.
- Overfishing is also another way to damage coral reefs. There is economic pressure in some countries to fish this way because coral reefs can provide one-quarter of the amount of fish consumed in developing countries.
- Do not eat fish caught by seabed trawling. This trawling method is so destructive that it destroys coral reefs that would otherwise live for thousands of years in the depths of the ocean. One example of a fish that is sometimes caught in a seabed trawl, usually a rough orange color.
Step 2. Apply to support coral reef science
Since 1998, the US government has extensively mapped coral reefs to track their rate of decline. These government efforts are sometimes linked to private groups accepting donations and volunteers, as well as state and local efforts to protect coral reefs. Global efforts are also being made to protect coral reefs.
- In Australia, the government has created a variety of ways for communities to get involved to help protect the Great Barrier Reef. The government has created a monitoring program that allows civilians to contribute to the protection of coral reefs by reporting their observations and data.
- Scientists studied detailed maps that warned of the bleaching process of coral reefs, caused by rising sea temperatures and explosive moss growth.
- The data collected is so comprehensive and voluminous that scientists receive hourly data updates, focusing on coral reefs in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virginia Islands in the United States. They monitor barometric pressure, tide levels, water and air temperatures, as well as other important factors related to coral reefs.
- Scientists grow coral reefs and then test different varieties in high acidity and other conditions. They have also found a way to plant reefs in the ocean and nourish their growth using electric currents.
Step 3. Help organizations dedicated to protecting coral reefs
There are many organizations working hard to stop the destruction of coral reefs. Some even build artificial coral reefs to replace those that were damaged or destroyed.
- The Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Relief, and the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation are some examples of private organizations working to save coral reefs. These organizations, and many others like it, offer a variety of ways for the world's civilians to get involved.
- You can register as a volunteer in a coral reef organization, be active and involved in various events and education. Follow the coral reef actions.
- Many of these organizations depend on donations.
- Several coral reef protection organizations have educational programs for children. The Reef Relief organization offers a reef camp program in Key West, Florida to educate children about the benefits of coral reefs.
Step 4. Tell others about coral reefs
Many people touch or damage coral reefs accidentally. They simply don't understand that reefs are full of vulnerable living things, or they don't realize that even the smallest contact can lead to sprawl. Helping to educate as many people as possible about coral reefs can make a difference.
- Many non-profit organizations working to protect coral reefs offer comprehensive information about reefs on their websites.
- You can sign a statement refusing to use reef jewelry.
- Government-owned websites, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, offer detailed information on the benefits and protection of coral reefs. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, set up by the United States Congress, is also working hard on the issue.
- The Coral Reef Alliance organization urges communities to educate others about the importance of coral reefs, and already has free social media badges that can be distributed to warn of support for coral reef protection actions. They also offer e-cards.
Step 5. Urge politicians to support coral reef protection efforts
The existence of legal mechanisms that protect coral reefs is very important. Let those politicians know that you want them to support efforts that ensure the maximum possible protection of coral reefs.
- Creating protected marine areas is one way of making a difference.
- Read the local action strategy, to understand what has been done in your area and others.
- The United States Special Forces Coral Reefs develops various federal and state strategies for protecting coral reefs.
