To protect coral reefs and their invaluable benefits, policies must promote restoration initiatives and better regulate, prevent, and/or eliminate key sources of harm (e.g., fossil fuels). Unfortunately, creating and implementing policy from scratch takes a long time—time our reefs simply don’t have. Luckily, conservationists and various governing agencies have begun to realize that laws written to address public health and environmental wellness on land can also be applied to protecting our coral reef ecosystems. Here are two examples:
Other kinds of policies
In 2022, The Nature Conservancy announced the first coral reef insurance policy in the United States, protecting Hawai’i’s coral reef systems from tropical storm damage. This provides conservation groups with needed funding and resources to restore reefs after major storms. While only the second coral reef insurance policy in the world, it shows how we can think leverage systems already in place.1“The Nature Conservancy Announces First-Ever Coral Reef Insurance Policy in the U.S.,” The Nature Conservancy ≫
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: we must reduce fossil fuel-based pollution if we want to protect our coral reefs both now and into the future. Increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are leading to warming waters and rising pH levels in our oceans, which in turn leads to ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and ecosystem destruction.
The solutions are many to address our pollution, but we also must remember that—to be truly effective for our coral reefs—it must also be paired with research support. Not only do we need to lower (if not reduce completely) our carbon outputs, but we must also invest in learning more about how we can support these imperative oceanic ecosystems.
Coral restoration programming desperately needs more funding in order to help coral reefs recover amidst ever-increasing pollution and rising global surface temperatures. Nonprofit organizations and projects (like Coral Restoration Foundation and those listed here) are creating new and innovative solutions that need to be prioritized at local and national levels. The discoveries, innovations, and repairs led by these organizations and others like them are only the beginning of the work required to ensure the protection and regeneration of coral reefs and essential marine ecosystems.
It’s also important that we not forget the needs of local communities near coral reefs who will certainly be impacted by any changes to fishing, tourism, and regional water protections (such as newly established MPAs). This is especially true for smaller and BIPOC communities who have, historically, been impacted by major shifts to industry and economy occur (often to the detriment of those communities).
Yes, we need to make large, sweeping changes, but not at the expense of people
Education is the first step in building public support for the importance of our coral reefs. Teaching children and adults alike the truths from the myths and establishing an understanding of what a healthy marine ecosystem looks like is critical if we want to establish long-term, sustainable solutions for address coral reef restoration and protection.
Education also needs to be happening at the legislative level. Legislators—those with the power to make legislative progress—need to have a firm understanding of these basic concepts as well as public pushing for change.
Though you may have never seen a coral reef in person, you’re likely to know that these ecosystems are important and that we need to protect them, but did you know how important? Did you know how explicitly coral reefs are tied to land protection and food security? More education is needed to get people on board with widespread coral reef protections.
The changing tide of public opinion very often comes through voting outcomes. Even a percent change can make all the difference.
Know what environmental initiatives are coming up on your ballot and the environmental stance of your prospective candidates.
If you live in a state or region with coral reefs, talk to your representatives about making this a priority.
Are you familiar with the expression, “Take only memories, leave only footprints”? This is especially true with beaches and coral reefs. It is vital that people do not interfere with reef life in any way. These are incredibly delicate ecosystems, and even something as simple as a human touch can disrupt the balance. Touching corals with your hands can spread harmful toxins—not to mention the many poisonous species of corals that carry potentially lethal toxic compounds. Best to keep your hands to yourself.
Also, don’t collect or buy shells or marine life as souvenirs (also known as the “curio trade”). And certainly, do not remove any corals, shells, or marine life from a reef. Shells are beautiful, but their role on the beach and in the water is an important one—even if it may seem like a harmless hobby to you.
For this reason, municipalities, states, and countries around the world have begun making it illegal for people to remove shells and marine life from beaches.
What else can you do to prevent harm to coral reefs?
Connect with local, national, and international nonprofits working on coral reef restoration locally and all over the world. If you like the work they’re doing and want to help, be sure to donate. Your monetary support is essential for progress—even a few dollars can make a difference.
The truth is environmental organizations receive less than 3% of all philanthropy in the United States. This number is particularly alarming when you realize that our environment–and the wellbeing of our coral reefs—directly impacts the health and wellness of all people.
You’re here reading this, which means you’re off to a great start. Congratulations! Taking the time to learn about our planet and the role coral reefs play in global food systems and the ecosystems functions of our oceans gives you the knowledge you need to make informed, environmentally conscious decisions every day.
Share this content with the people in your life to equip them with knowledge and help us achieve our goal of widespread coral reef awareness and support. Tag us on socials and tell us the best fact(s) you’ve learned about coral reefs and coral reef protection.
Consumers simply cannot be the linchpin for change—not at the rate major corporations are polluting and producing goods that are harmful to our planet—but consumer choice is still powerful, and it absolutely can be wielded for good. By shifting demand toward sustainable, environmentally responsible goods and services, we can start to influence the decision-making of large corporations who seek to increase their profits.
When it comes to protecting our coral reefs, keep the following in mind before you make your next purchase:
Just like the name suggests, coral nurseries are places created for the growth and development of new corals, whether from sexual reproduction or fragmentation. These coral fragments can then be placed onto an existing reef to latch on and promote new growth—a process known as “outplanting.” Coral Restoration Foundation (CFR) has been achieving positive coral growth through the use of custom “Coral Tree” frames, made from monofilament fishing line, that are tethered to the ocean floor.4“Coral Tree Nurseries,” Coral Restoration Foundation ≫
According to CRF: “After [the coral fragments] have reached a substantial size, they are tagged and taken to a carefully selected reef restoration site where they are attached directly to the reef using a two-part marine epoxy.”5“Hands to Yourself:
Keep Wildlife Safe and Healthy,” National Marine Sanctuaries ≫
A Marine Protected Area (MPA for short) is a nationally and/or internationally recognized geographical area of protected waters for the purpose of conservation. Today, MPAs account for 8.19% of global ocean coverage.6“A guide to identifying an MPA’s protection level,” ≫
The purpose of an MPA is to place limits on human activity within that area—whether that’s fishing, boating, or even swimming—to reduce the harm done to essential marine ecosystems. National and State Parks as well as marine sanctuaries are examples of MPA programs. And while having protected marine waters is certainly important, it can only be successful when these MPAs are properly managed and have consistent oversight and rule enforcement; something that many MPAs are missing today.
Corals are sensitive to many stressors, including ocean acidification and warming marine waters as previously mentioned. Unfortunately, recovery for these corals can’t keep up with the number of losses because coral only reproduce once a year through sexual reproduction. While some species can reproduce by fragmentation, this too takes time. It can take a coral colony anywhere from nine to 12 years to recover from a mass bleaching event, and when you take into consideration that these mass bleaching events are now happening approximately every six years, it certainly doesn’t bode well for coral populations.
Existing reefs need increased support, and one of the ways this is being achieved today is through human-assisted coral fragmentation. Coral Restoration Foundation is spearheading these efforts in the Florida Keys to help protect America’s largest coral reef!
Local communities and grassroots organizations are paramount to coral reef protection; most often the ones implementing solutions to help regrow and conserve corals and the ecosystems they support. These groups can and should be entrusted with the leadership of coral reef restoration and sustainability initiatives. Local communities know their shores and waters more than anyone and can best speak to the most significant needs of their region. These are also the people most immediately impacted by the health (or lack thereof) of nearby coral reefs, which they rely on for food, safety, and their local economy (e.g., tourism).
Likewise, grassroots organizations—often made up of members of the community they are local to—have the on-the-ground experience and expertise to help local communities put solutions into action.
However, local communities and grassroots organizations typically have limited resources and funding. The most common obstacle? Capacity. To make greater strides, these organizations need increased financial support, opportunities to network with their peers, and environmental policy changes that amplify their work
Small, independent fishers and fisheries (often referred to as “artisanal fisheries”) have a huge impact globally as a key food provider for hundreds of millions of people across the globe, with 95% of these independent fishers operating in the global south. This puts them in a unique position to play a critical role in coral reef and marine ecosystem restoration. Unfortunately, a huge portion of these independent fishers and fisheries are resource constrained with less capacity to learn and implement sustainable practices.
This presents a unique opportunity for governments and independent organizations to assist with network building, knowledge-sharing, education, and physical and financial resources for the implementation of sustainable practices; especially in areas where coral reefs are present.7“International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture closes with many concrete results,” Food and Agriculture Organization ≫
Industrial fisheries occupy one-third of the entire planet. Like industrial agriculture, industrial fisheries are responsible for significant fossil fuel emissions, emitting approximately 159 million tons of carbon dioxide (or more) annually. Unfortunately, a recent report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development highlights the fishing industry’s lack of comprehensive goals and guidelines for transitioning to clean energy. Overfishing and bycatch has also become an issue of industrial fishing, negatively impacting coral reefs which require healthy fish populations to survive.
So, what can major aquaculture and fishing companies do to help? For starters, they can immediately begin developing plans for a just transition to clean energy that doesn’t negatively harm small and marginalized fishing communities.
They can also implement and enforce stronger policies on overfishing, working with scientists to understand where fishing can take place and when. And finally, they can invest in coral reef projects in the regions where they fish to help restore and preserve essential fish populations and marine ecosystems.
These are only a few available methods for how these major corporations can make a positive impact and reduce their harm. What’s important is that they start.8“Industrial Fishing Occupies a Third of the Planet,” National Geographic ≫; “Energy transition of fishing fleets,” U.N. Conference
on Trade and Development ≫
Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in our atmosphere have risen considerably. Like heat, our ocean absorbs a large amount of this CO2, increasing the pH levels of surface-level seawater (a.k.a. ocean acidification). While generally harmful to all marine life, this acidification is particularly damaging for shellfish and corals as it interferes with their ability to build their shells and skeletons.
“The current rate of acidification is at least 100 times faster than any time period over the last few hundred thousands years and is it most likely unprecedented in Earth’s history.”
So, what’s causing these warming waters in the first place? Like with so many other questions about the current state of our planet, the answer is climate change. Since 1880 (when we first started global temperature recordkeeping), the average temperature on Earth’s surface has risen by 1° C (or approximately 1.8° F). This may not seem like a lot, but weather patterns, global temperatures, and ecosystem behavior have all been affected dramatically.10“Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet,” NASA ≫
The average surface temperature of the Earth in 2023 was the warmest ever recorded. In fact, the past 10 years have been the warmest years in the historical record. The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat provided by trapped greenhouse gases, leading to warming ocean waters. As a result, mass coral bleaching events, which you may have already read about, are happening four times faster than they were just forty years ago, and rising water levels are leading to the loss of breeding grounds for marine animals; a direct threat to human food security.11“Show Your Stripes,” University of Reading ≫
Restoring and protecting our coral reefs means we must address their main source of harm: fossil fuel pollution. This is not the first time this problem has arisen in our 30×30 solutions. That’s because they’re all interwoven. What harms one element of our planet will likely harm others. Luckily, the actions we take to address one problem will have widespread effects.
The above are issues that CANNOT be solved by grassroots groups and coastal communities alone; these are solutions and policy changes that must come from those who govern and at all levels of government.
Healthy corals live cooperatively with algae, supporting algae growth, which—when the algae photosynthesize—give the coral energy and color. Coral bleaching occurs when stressful conditions created by warming waters cause the expulsion of the algae, leading to the eventual death of the coral. Coral bleaching events are happening four times more frequently than they did in the 1980s. This is likely a result of climate change as the average temperature of the Earth has risen 1° C since the late 19th century.13“Everything You Need to Know about Coral Bleaching—And How We Can Stop It,” World Wildlife Fund ≫; “Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene,” Science, Vol. 359, No. 6637 ≫
Multiple significant bleaching events have been recorded since 1980, coinciding with warmer temperature patterns in 1982-1983, 1997-1998, 2009-2010, and the most recent event in 2015-2016 which was particularly devastating for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Filter feeders are a subgroup of animals that move through the water—or use moving water near them—to find their food. These animals filter the water, take the particles they want, and dispose of the particles they don’t. As a result, these animals help clean and purify the waters around them. Some of the most famous filter feeders are oysters, humpback whales, and whale sharks. Many types of corals and sponges (which frequently grow alongside reefs) are filter feeders.14“Seven ways you’re connected to coral reefs,” United Nations Environment Programme ≫
Headquartered in Key Largo, Florida, Coral Restoration Foundation was created in response to the significant, widespread loss of coral species on Florida’s Great Coral Reef—the longest barrier reef in the world. To address this growing problem, they developed a coral farming and outplanting method that naturally grows fragments of staghorn and elkhorn corals into full-fledged coral colonies. To date, Coral Restoration Foundation has restored more than 17,500 square meters of reef around the Florida Keys.
Learn more about Coral Restoration Foundation’s effort to save the largest reef in the U.S.
Regenerative agriculture is the practice of enriching the land through farming and other agricultural practices; an effort that has been led by Indigenous Communities for thousands of years. Rather than stripping the ground of its nutrients, regenerative practices add to the health and strength of the soil and the overall ecosystem. In essence, it is a decolonization of agriculture as a whole.15“Regenerative Agriculture 101,” Natural Resources Defense Council ≫; “Native Growers Decolonize Regenerative Agriculture,” Green America ≫
It is, “a pathway to an abundant and resilient future…shifting from the narrative of human dominion to one of healing our relationship with the Earth” (One Earth). As a result, farms become more resistant to climate-related threats such as drought, flooding, and extreme shifts in temperature.
Sustainable agriculture is the first step forward to achieving regenerative agriculture. This is accomplished through the introduction of practices to improve environmental health, reduce the use of freshwater and harmful pesticides, and improve carbon storage in the soil.