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June 1st is World Reef Awareness Day. Like Earth Day, it’s meant to raise awareness of our natural environment. Specifically, it’s all about being aware of the impact our actions as humans have on the beautiful marine organisms known as coral. The incredible Great Barrier Reef, a collection of coral off the coast of Australia, is the world’s largest reef system—it’s even visible from space.
Coral reefs, and their many inhabitants, are in danger largely due to manmade actions such as global warming and marine pollution. Our actions have a stark, visible effect on reefs across the globe. As coral reefs are exposed to warmer waters, they lose their vibrant hues and turn ghastly white in a process known as coral bleaching.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do in your daily life to reduce the strain on coral like being thoughtful about the products you use. As World Reef Awareness Day kicks off World Ocean Month, now is as good a time as any to make simple changes that can make a big impact.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coral reefs provide a variety of benefits that warrants protection. While it's true that their beauty attracts visitors from around the world, it does more than that. Tourism around coral reefs provides hundreds of jobs to tour guides, fishers, divers, snorkelers and more, adding substantial economic value to them. Aside from providing beauty, they also help to protect coastlines from storms and erosion. What's more, they provide food for marine life and humans, and even provide medicine.
You probably already know that marine debris such as plastic bags and six-pack rings can harm marine organisms such as sea turtles, but did you know they can also injure and kill coral reefs? Toys, bottles, cigarette butts and other trash are all bad news for coral reefs. One way you can do your part in protecting them is by picking up and properly disposing of trash on the beach. You’ll want to dispose of your own trash, of course, but why stop there?
You can go to a beach near you with a grabber to pick up any trash you come across.
Clean up the beach with a grabber
You’ll want to put the trash you find in a compostable bag.
Use an eco-friendly trash bag for an eco-friendly activity like cleaning up the beach.
If you’re traveling to a beach where there’s coral, you might be tempted to take a piece of coral home to gift it or keep as a souvenir — don’t do it! It can take decades for reefs to grow. Not to mention, coral will die and turn white when broken off. With this in mind, if you’re looking for a coral memento or gift, we recommend getting a non-living alternative.
Instead of breaking reefs for taking back home, use a realistic decoration.
Many sunscreens contain chemicals that can cause or exacerbate coral bleaching, in which corals expel the symbiotic algae that live on them, turning them white and making them more susceptible to disease and injury. Fortunately, there are mineral sunscreens that you can use that are harmless to coral reefs. Our favorite is Hawaiian Tropic's Mineral Skin Nourishing Milk SPF 50 Sunscreen. We love it because it has a pleasant smell and doesn't leave a white cast on your skin when you apply it.
Use a mineral sunscreen to protect your skin and the reefs at the same time.
One way to reduce the amount of plastic waste potentially going to the ocean is by using reusable bags at grocery stores instead of single-use ones. If you're going grocery shopping, get in the habit of bringing an insulated bag. Not only will it protect reefs in the long run, but it will also keep your groceries from spoiling in the summer heat.
Use reusable grocery bags next time you shop.
One way that pollutants end up in the oceans is via runoff from artificial fertilizers and pesticides. So, to protect your watershed and the ocean alongside it, we recommend using natural compost for all of your gardening needs. The best garden compost we’ve tested is the Blue Ribbon Organics Compost because it doesn’t cause environmental contamination, it improves water retention, and it improves soil structure.
Mitigate harmful chemicals in runoff by using organic compost.
You can also make your own compost using the remains of certain trash (apple cores, banana peels, compostable plates, etc). Beyond ensuring your compost is organic, this also will reduce your carbon footprint since you’ll create less trash to be processed. To get started with composting, you’ll want a compost bin like our favorite, the Redmon Compost Bin, 65 Gallon. This large-capacity bin is both easy to fill and easy to empty.
Reuse your waste in a productive way.
Yet another common source of plastic is single-use water bottles. We know that this summer is likely to be a scorcher, so we're not asking you to forego water entirely. Instead, try using a reusable water bottle like our favorite, the Owala Freesip, which keeps water cold for up to 24 hours and features a spill-proof lid.
Ditch plastic water bottles for our favorite reusable one.
Even rainwater can contribute to the decline in coral health. This is because it carries whatever's on the ground, including chemicals, as runoff toward streams where it eventually reaches the ocean. A way to reduce the amount of runoff is by collecting rain before it hits the ground using a rain barrel.
One of the best rain barrels on Amazon is the FCMP Outdoor RC4000 50-Gallon Heavy-Duty Outdoor Home Rain Catcher Barrel. It has over 1,490 five-star reviews and buyers enjoy its ease of use and large water capacity.
Reuse water with a rain barrel.
Global warming caused by emissions is a major contributing factor to coral bleaching. A good way to contribute to reef protection is by cutting back on your personal emissions by walking or running instead of using a car. What better way to go green by walking than by wearing a green shoe made of recycled and sustainable materials? Allbirds is a sustainable shoe brand who just released a new pair of walking shoes — the Tree Runners Go.
Go on a walk this World Reef Awareness Day.
For longer emission-free trips, we recommend riding a bicycle. For a versatile bike that can handle a variety of terrains, consider buying a fat-tire bike. There are many to choose from, but the best you can buy is the Mongoose Copper 18-Inch Argus ST 26 which is sturdy and beginner-friendly.
Another way to cut back on your emissions is by reducing your use of electricity in your home. This is easier than it seems, as we often waste electricity on things that we aren't even using. You can curb this by using a smart plug. The best one we've tested is Kasa Matter’s Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring. As the name implies, it monitors your energy usage and can help you conserve energy with its nifty features including scheduling, away mode and a countdown timer that will automatically cut the power off after a set period of time. Beyond this, it's slim, compact, fast and responsive.
Monitor your energy usage with our favorite smart plug.
Solar panels offer an alternative, greener way to power your electronic devices. The best solar panel you can buy is the Hiluckey HI-S025 Solar Power Bank. This waterproof power bank comes with a built-in flashlight and two USB ports. Despite its immense power, the solar panel can easily fit into a bag for transportation.
Opt for greener energy where you can.
Quality LED lightbulbs can also reduce your emissions, as they're very energy efficient. Philips has a great energy-efficient lightbulb which buyers love because of its medium-brightness lighting and lack of flickering. Philips estimates that each of these Energy Star-certified bulbs will cost $1.57 a year to run, so they’re cost-effective, too.
World Reef Awareness Day is a day dedicated to reflecting on both the importance of coral reefs as a beacon of biodiversity and on our impact on these reefs.
World Reef Awareness Day is observed annually on June 1.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
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