How to Prevent Coral Reefs From Disappearing
Coral reefs around the world are becoming more and more endangered. According to Ocean World, "10 percent of the world's reefs have been destroyed." Humans contribute to the destruction of reefs through global warming, which causes coral bleaching. They also physically damage through a lack of care around the coral reefs and poor fishing methods, such as dynamite fishing. Many initiatives worldwide seek to protect and save the coral reefs, which are a source of a multitude of life and resources.
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Instructions
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Support the establishment of national parks and marine conservation areas that encourage better protection and reef management. Your monetary and vocal support helps protect reefs that already exist.
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Report all coral reef damage you witness to dive operators and scientific or conservation groups that monitor marine health. These organizations include Project AWARE, the Environmental Projection Agency or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
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When you are eating seafood, make wise choices in what you order. Avoid anything on the menu that is caught or farmed using destructive methods or unsustainable practices, such as reef-killing poisons, explosives and illegal equipment. These menu items include dishes such as shark fin soup or any that feature rare marine fish.
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When operating a boat or personal watercraft, navigate carefully to avoid contact with coral reefs. Additionally, maintain the engines and equipment to prevent oil and gas spills.
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Do not purchase items made from coral or any other endangered marine species. As a general rule, it is better to not purchase anything marine-related, unless you are absolutely sure where it came from.
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When on boat tours for diving or snorkeling, try to employ operators that use mooring buoys or drift-diving techniques. These methods avoid damage of the ecosystem by dropping an anchor on a coral reef.
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Ensure your buoyancy skills are sufficient when scuba diving. Practice these skills in a pool or sandy area before diving on reefs. All of your equipment and gauges should be secured with clips to avoid accidental contact with the reef. Never touch, stand on or collect coral.
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Enroll in education programs about coral reef conservation. These programs are offered by Project AWARE and other conservation organizations. These programs will teach you how to help with reef protection and also give you information you can pass on to others to educate them in reef conservation.
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Choose resorts and tour operators who properly treat wastewater. When on vacation, avoid establishments that dump their wastewater into the ocean, which affects the reef's survival through pH and pollutant damage.
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Be active. When you see litter on a reef, pick it up. Educate people when you see them exercising bad conservation practices. Try to organize community reef cleanups to help your local coral reef stay healthy. Donate money to the organizations working to protect coral reefs. Do your part to protect these diverse ecosystems.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit coral reef image by Christian Schoettler from Fotolia.com
