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) 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 been historically impacted by major shifts to industry and economy (often to the detriment of these communities).

Yes, we need to make large, sweeping changes, but not at the expense of people.

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.

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 build long-term, sustainable solutions to 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 the public push for change.

Connect with local, national, and international nonprofits working on coral reef restoration. 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 ecosystem 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.

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,” Protected Planet ≫

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.

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.

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.¹¹“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.¹²“Show Your Stripes,” University of Reading ≫

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.¹⁵“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.¹⁶“Seven ways you’re connected to coral reefs,” United Nations Environment Programme ≫