World Reef Day 2022
World Reef Awareness Day – 1 June 2022
World Reef Awareness Day on June 1st serves as a call to action for consumers, businesses and organizations to reflect on the delicate ecosystem of our ocean’s coral reefs. The day brings together the general public, influencers and opinion leaders to create active change through education and engagement.
Coral reefs are living communities of colonial organisms made of individual polyps that excrete a bone-like skeleton. This skeleton forms large rock-like structures that are homes for thousands of organisms.
The health of a reef tells us a lot about the health of an ocean. Many fish and ocean animals rely on the protection of the healthy, living reef for spawning season. The reef also provides more than protection; it supplies a rich, thriving food chain, too. From plankton and algae to the largest sea creatures, the reef ecosystem is a significant life support system.
Benefits of a Healthy Reef
The benefits of a healthy reef ecosystem go far beyond the ocean. Coral reefs are:
- essential to the plant and fish life
- contribute to a lively fishing industry
- protect beaches and coastlines from erosion
- act as the oceans filter
- provide life-saving medicines and
- possibly the one animal on the planet capable of consuming plastic
In recent years, our most productive reefs have been in decline due to coral bleaching. For example, the Great Barrier Reef decreased by 40 percent. It’s even worse along the Florida Keys and Caribbean. Their decline is between 85 and 99 percent! According to Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Lab, about 90 percent of the reefs in the Caribbean have disappeared since 1980
What causes coral reefs to die off?
- Rising sea temperatures
- Industrial pollution, plastic pollution, sewage
- Chemical sunscreens and
- Unmanaged, high-density tourism all threaten coral reefs.
One easy step we can take to protect these precious resources is by wearing non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen
According to Dr. Craig Downs, “When ingredients are uncoated and nano-size (less than 100 nanometers in diameter), they can enter the cells of invertebrates and fish and cause tissue damage, stressing all these marine organisms. Your best bet is to go for non-nano zinc oxide larger than 150 nanometers. At that point, the acute toxicity drops off, and the impact to ecosystems is mitigated.”
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldReefDay
On World Reef Day, educate yourself and spread awareness about how we can make simple choices today to save our reefs for tomorrow. While you explore the importance of reefs, share your discoveries, too! When you head to the beach, use reef-safe sunscreen. Another easy way to protect the reefs is by reducing or eliminating single-use plastic from your lifestyle. And finally, spread awareness about the importance of the reef eco-system. Join the campaign using these World Reef Day tools:
- Join the viral social campaign by posting the World Reef Day tile and suggested caption.
- Download the World Reef Day toolkit to get started.
- Use #WorldReefDay to share on social media. For more information, visit www.worldreefday.org