Coral reefs are beautiful and majestic underwater ecosystems, but unfortunately, they are now facing numerous risks, from pollution and reckless tourist activities to ocean water temperature rise and acidification. When corals are under a lot of stress because the water gets to acidic or warm, they lose their vivid colors and turn white, a phenomenon called coral bleaching. The process is reversible, but if the circumstances that have prompted it persist, the tiny animals die. According to the latest estimates, around 75% of the planet’s corals are currently at risk.
By Jeff Williams
Keeping coral reefs safe is critical as the diverse ecosystems are home to a quarter of the planet’s marine fish species despite covering just up to 0.2% of the world’s oceans. The good news is that there are some things anyone can do to protect coral reefs and limit their destruction.
1. Dive and Snorkel Responsibly
If you plan to explore the coral reefs on your next vacation, do it responsibly. You can admire firsthand the beauty of the small marine creatures, without leaving a permanent mark on them. So, when diving or snorkeling around a reef, adhere to the local guidelines or from organizations like Green Fins set in place to protect corals. When in doubt, refrain from touching the corals or anchoring a boat on the reef. No contact can go a long way as the delicate ecosystem won’t be at risk of getting damaged. You can educate your fellow scuba divers and snorkelers about it, as well.
2. Remember the 3 R’s
When both at home and at the beach, don’t forget about the 3 R’s of sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. In short, the 3 R’s help us to cut down on the waste generated and create a sustainable life. These simple rules can be implemented by everyone nearly everywhere. For instance, you can refrain from buying things that you don’t really need, can reuse bags and plastic bottles more than once, and recycle paper, plastic, glass, and cardboard at appropriate recycling centers.
Also, on a beach trip, don’t leave trash behind or toss cigarette buds in the sand as your waste can easily get into the ocean. Surprisingly, NOAA has found that 32% of all the trash collected from the oceans represents cigarette buds. Marine animals mistake the buds for food, but because of the plastic, they cannot properly digest them and die.
3. Buy Aquarium Fish and Corals Responsibly
Ensure that whenever you buy new fish or corals for your aquarium you make a conscious decision. For this, you should educate first about which aquarium fish and corals have been collected in a sustainable manner and which are endangered. We recommend checking out specialized websites like Reef Nation or environmental organizations’ official websites, like the IUCN Redlist.
To take things further, avoid eating fish and seafood. Due to overfishing, the world’s oceans are about to be depleted of some of the most popular species of marine fish including tuna, cod, and haddock. This effects all levels of the marine food web.
4. Use Only Reef-Friendly Sunscreen Products
Yes, you’ve heard that right – sunscreen can harm coral reef. Some sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone (BP-3), butylparaben, and octinoxate can severely harm the world’s reefs. For instance, oxybenzone is so disruptive that it hampers coral reproduction and damages the tiny animals’ DNA. Unfortunately, the ingredient can be found in more than 3,000 sun protection products worldwide.
Also, non-eco-friendly sunscreen can harm coral animals in other (not-so-obvious) ways if they contain plastic microbeads or nanoparticles, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
You can protect corals by not using any products that contain the ingredients proven to harm corals and switching to reef-friendly products, like mineral based sunscreens. What’s more, keep in mind that the ‘Reef Friendly’ and ‘Reef Safe’ claims on labels can be misleading as the issue has not been regulated yet. So, research the ingredients on the labels yourself if you want to make a truly informed decision.
5. Avoid Using Fertilizers
You may want a lush, green lawn that all your neighbors will envy you for, but that comes with a hidden cost. Most fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus, two ingredients that are extremely toxic to corals. You may be wondering how your fertilizer could harm corals when you don’t live anywhere near the ocean. Well, the said chemicals will eventually get into waterways and from there into the ocean.
6. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
There are many ways to reduce your greenhouse gas emission output, aka the ‘carbon footprint.’ One of the best ways to do it is to switch to clean transportation methods like going on foot, biking, or using public transport. If you really have to drive, choose an electric or hybrid car. Fewer cars on the road means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, less ocean acidification, and happier corals.
Conclusion
Being proactive about the environment and conscious when making those small decisions that add up every single day, like what you put on your plate or what means of transportation you take, can help keep coral reefs safe. But being conscious and responsible about something cannot be done without being educated about it first. So, educate yourself and your loved ones, and corals will be forever grateful.