15 Simple Things You Can Do To Protect Coral Reefs: Take Action Now

Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Although they cover only less than 1% of the ocean, they are home to almost 25% of all known marine species. This is an issue because coral reefs are severely threatened by climate change. If coral reefs die, many marine species will lose their home and become threatened.

With that information in mind, here are 15 things you can do to protect Coral Reefs.

1. Do not touch coral

Coral reefs are alive, so try not to touch or stand on them. When visiting a coral reef, practice safe diving and snorkeling.

2. Practice safe boating

When boating, anchor in a sandy area away from coral and sea grasses so that the anchor and chain do not drag on nearby corals and damage them.

3. Check sunscreen ingredients

Make sure to check and choose sunscreens with chemicals that do not harm marine life. The sunscreen you apply may not stay on your skin and will enter the waterway, harming coral reefs. Some chemicals that are harmful include Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, Octinoxate and Octocrylene. Learn more about skincare chemicals and marine life at National Ocean Service.

Here is a list of reef safe sunscreens:

• People4ocean

• Badger

• Manda

• Stream2sea

• TropicSport

• HumanHeartNature

4. Leave coral where it is

Coral grows very slowly. It takes some corals decades or longer to create stable reef structures. If you are going diving or snorkeling, leave the coral on the reef.

5. Conserve water

Use less water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute the ocean. Coral and the algae that grow on coral are very sensitive to chemicals. Runoff can stop growth and photosynthesis, which causes coral bleaching.

6. Use energy efficient light bulbs

Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which helps minimize the threat of climate change.

7. Volunteer

Volunteer or organize local beach or reef cleanups. Plastic pollutes ocean waters and harms coral reefs and other sea life.

8. Recycle and dispose of trash properly

Remember to recycle and dispose of trash properly in bins, to avoid trash being blown or washed away into the ocean. Also, never throw or leave cigarette butts in the sand.

9. Use organic fertilizers

Use only ecological or organic fertilizers in your gardens and on your lawns. Harsh chemicals and pesticides runoff into the water system and pollute the ocean. Chemicals can travel on ocean currents for hundreds of miles, harming coral reefs.

10. Choose sustainable seafood

Overfishing is a threat to more than just coral reefs, but maintaining ecosystem productivity is especially important to reef systems. Overfishing causes depletion of important reef species and damages reef habitats. Coral reefs have high trophic levels, which are naturally more vulnerable to overexploitation. Managing sustainable coral reef fishing is crucial to the health, safety and balance of reef ecosystems. Learn more at FishWatch and NOAA's National Ocean Service.

11. Be conscious when buying aquarium fish

When buying saltwater aquarium fish, make sure that the fish have been collected in a sustainable manner. Also avoid purchasing living coral.

12. Use environmentally-friendly transportation

Instead of driving, try to walk, bike or use public transportation more often. If you do drive, try to choose a fuel-efficient car like a hybrid or electric car. Using cleaner transportation can reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that are released into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to acidic and warmer ocean waters, which harm coral reefs.

13. Plant a tree

Trees reduce runoff in the oceans. Trees also help reverse the warming of our planet and

the rising temperatures of our oceans by removing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Toxic chemicals and rising ocean temperatures damage coral, and trees help mitigate these threats.

14. Speak out

Write to your government officials and local representatives and demand they take action to protect coral reefs.

15. Talk and educate others

Talk to your friends and family and tell them about the coral reef crisis. Ask them to get involved and make a difference too.

With this information in mind, please do your part to protect coral reefs and mitigate the coral reef crisis. Take action now.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash and Flickr.