Start saving coral reefs today by making small changes at home.
Living near the ocean isn’t a requirement to help protect coral reefs. Rather, saving coral reefs will require people everywhere to make small changes in their everyday lives. Most of the world’s reefs are now under threat due to pollution, global climate change, and destructive fishing practices. Making good decisions at home can go a long way to protect coral reefs.
- Choose Sustainable Seafood to Protect Coral Reefs Destructive fishing practices such as dynamite, cyanide, and bottom-trawl fishing destroy coral reefs and inhibit the growth of new corals. According to the Coral Reef Alliance, over half of Southeast Asia’s coral reefs are at risk due to destructive fishing practices. Help save coral reefs by eating only sustainably caught seafood.
- Consume Less Paper to Stop Coral Reef Destruction Deforestation leads to runoff – meaning dirt, fertilizers, and sewage is carried to the ocean. Runoff smothers corals, causing them to die. So use less paper, consume less in general, and still help protect coral reefs.
- Plant a Tree On the flip side, planting trees can help reduce runoff and help save coral reefs.
- Use a Cloth Bag to Promote Coral Reef Conservation Plastic bags have a way of traveling –once its thrown out there’s a good way it’ll make its way to the ocean (just check out the Great Pacific Garbage Patch). Plastic bags can suffocate coral reefs and if reef habitants such as turtles eat them, they can die.
- Use Non-Toxic Cleaning Products It may come as a surprise, but many of the chemicals that are making your home clean are actually not good for you or the environment. Chemicals that are washed down the drain could travel from the sewer to the ocean leading to coral reef destruction.
- Take the Bus or Carpool Carbon emissions have taken their toll on coral reefs leading to bleaching and dead corals. Consider reducing those emissions to help with marine conservation.
- Consider Eating Organic to Protect Coral Reefs The fertilizers used to make conventional food can get carried away with runoff. Fertilizers and pesticides can lead to coral reef destruction.
- Spread the Word Tell a friend, inspire family members, and make sure everyone knows how important coral reefs are to the globe. A little change among a lot of people can do wonders to save coral reefs.
- Contact Government Representatives Remember, politicians are meant to represent their constituents and the issues people care about. Make your voice heard and advocate for marine conservation. Changing policy is perhaps one of the most effective ways of saving coral reefs.
- Donate to Coral Reef Conservation Groups Coral reef conservation groups make great strides towards educating the public, changing policy, and promoting overall coral health. Be sure to donate to the marine conservation group that will do the most good.
Sources:
“Guides and Best Practices for Everyone”. Coral Reef Alliance. 2010. Oct 22 2010. coral.org.
“25 Things You Can Do To Save Coral Reefs”. NOAA. Oct 22 2010. publicaffairs.noaa.gov.
Copyright Megan Jungwi. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Megan Jungwi - Megan Jungwi started her freelance writing career in March 2009. Although new to online writing Megan has long been passionate about the ...
Join the Conversation