how to save coral reefs

You will be surprised at how much information is available online regarding coral reefs. For more tips on protecting coral reefs, like how to reduce your carbon footprint and how to protest against destructive fishing methods, keep reading! But this heat-storing capacity isn’t limitless, and excess heat over time takes its toll on ocean inhabitants. It is impossible for the authorities to do something if they do not know it is happening. Some common sunscreen ingredients, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been shown to be toxic to corals or even kill corals. 35 Tremendous Ways to Save Coral Reefs From Destruction, 3. Learn more... Coral reefs are some of the world's most stunning and biologically diverse environments. Share. The biggest one of them all, the Great Barrier Reef, was just halved in size within a mere two years. In 2016 and 2017, a series of extreme heat waves killed half of the coral reefs that line Australia’s sweeping east coast. To directly advocate for policy change, contact elected officials to urge them to take part in saving coral reefs. It is a tedious job, but if everyone made an effort to clean up the trash around them, our oceans and reefs would be in much better health. In addition to reducing these substances, conserve your water use whenever possible to reduce the amount of runoff water that carries pollution to the oceans. Keep your fins in mind when snorkeling. Simply don’t catch fish faster than they reproduce, don’t damage the corals or pollute the water, reduce atmospheric CO2, and … Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling. Turn off lights when they aren't in use, and unplug devices when you aren't using them. When a storm hit coral, a piece of a colony might break off, tumble away, and eventually reattach to the bottom and continue to grow by cloning itself. Reducing stormwater runoff prevents water pollution, reduces flooding, and protects our water resources. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. There is no excuse for polluting the environment around the water supply. Stay high above the coral and observe it from near the surface. However, through education and conversation, there are ways for you to become a better steward of the world's coral reefs. Coral reefs are an important underwater ecosystem, often called the 'rainforests of the ocean'. Despite global lockdowns and sharply falling emissions, atmospheric carbon dioxide still reached a record high in May. (And How To Keep Them Away). Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Coral reefs are dying, and climate change is killing them. That has bad consequences not only for the reefs, but the entire ecosystem that involves diverse marine species that find their homes in the reef. Hundreds of millions of people depend on reefs for protection from storms and tsunamis, as well as for their livelihoods, through fishing or tourism. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Many people like to create live rock aquariums because of how beautiful they look. There are many organizations that work hard to stop destruction of coral reefs. The health, integrity and function of coral reefs are being monitored and action points created to improve the quality of the coral and the lives that depend on it. Unfortunately, experts believe that as much as 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs are in danger because of water temperature rising, excess carbon dioxide in the water and other types of pollution. The oceans absorb and store heat very efficiently, which is over 90% of the planet’s heat trapped in the atmosphere by human-generated greenhouse gases. Don’t leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. As the race to save our oceans against a changing climate accelerates around the world, knowing how to rebuild one of its foundational components, coral reefs… This is a great event that takes place every year where you can learn more about the oceans, coral reefs and related marine life. Even though you might be aware of the coral reefs and how they are under threat, this does not mean your friends and family share this awareness. If anyone is lucky enough to have been near the ocean, you probably got a chance to witness firsthand the beauty and majesty of the coral reefs. Follow social media accounts associated with different coral reef preservation and protection groups and organizations. The more you learn about the reefs, the more you will come to appreciate how fragile and important these ecosystems are to this planet. Plant a coral: Join our efforts to plant and restore corals in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Micronesia. If there are any local guidelines or recommendations about how to interact with the reef, please adhere to them strictly. These include things such as hiring local guides to support the economy, removing all trash from an area, never touching or harassing wildlife in reef areas, and avoiding dropping your boat anchor or chain nearby a coral reef. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. The more people learn and get excited about the coral reefs, the greater the chances of us coming together to succeed at conservation. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To Save Coral Reefs, Start With Parrotfish Coral reefs are very complex ecosystems, but luckily managing them sustainably is not. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Take-Action-to-Save-Coral-Reefs-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Take-Action-to-Save-Coral-Reefs-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Take-Action-to-Save-Coral-Reefs-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/aid443015-v4-728px-Take-Action-to-Save-Coral-Reefs-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"