Today Is World Reef Awareness Day! Help To Protect Our Vital Underwater Ecosystems
Katie Cleary
Today is both a day to honor our ocean’s incredible complex underwater ecosystems, as well as a call to action for businesses and consumers around the world to take action to better protect our ocean’s coral reefs.
Coral reefs are large underwater rock-like structures comprised of communities of thousands of marine organisms called coral.
The health of our coral reefs is vital to the health of our oceans. Marine life relies on healthy coral reefs for protection and food in order to survive.
Coral reefs are currently facing a dire crisis. Recent studies have revealed that 50% of the world’s coral reefs have already been destroyed. Sadly, The Great Barrier Reef has decreased by 40%, and another 40% could be lost over the next 30 years.
Causes of reef destruction are:
• Climate change
• Rising sea temperatures
• Plastic pollution, chemical dumping & sewage runoff
• Increased ocean traffic and activity
• Unmanaged tourism
• Sunscreen that is not reef-safe
This all negatively effects and destroys our ocean’s coral reefs.
You can help by supporting organizations working to restore these beautiful underwater ecosystems!
