What’s being done
Due to their beauty and photogenic attractiveness, coral reefs are often the center point of many touristic endeavors and the tropical destinations that host these important ecosystems, have the topmost responsibility of enforcing the conservation efforts needed to solve the problem.
Home of the second largest coral barrier reef in the world, Belize has been making headway as the first country in the world to put a moratorium on all offshore oil drilling. Hotels and resorts have been creating programs, enforcing initiatives, and educating guests on the importance of preserving endangered reefs. Hamanasi Resort, in particular, is an eco-friendly hotel that has been launching countless efforts to stop and prevent coral reef deterioration as well as systematic oceanic breakdown and overall environmental endangerment. Hamanasi has banned all single-use plastics and Styrofoam from their property, opting instead for the use of biodegradable bamboo straws and reusable containers and utensils. They also aim to educate guests and their children about their choices, no matter how small, have an impact on the environment. Hamanasi has been a very vocal and hands-on advocate of the need for eco-friendly sunscreens and they have actively banned the use of non-reef safe sunscreens and lotions. They have also partnered with All Good reef-friendly sunscreens in an effort to promote, encourage and educate their guests on the importance of reef-safe products. This last initiative is the most influential one so far if we consider that, according to National Geographic, 14,000 tons of sunscreen are washed into the oceans each year and 82,000 chemicals from personal-care products are contaminating the seas.
The importance of these types of initiatives is of the utmost importance for the preservation of all marine life due to their reach and scope of influence. To ensure the consistency of these practices, make sure to always seek out eco-friendly accommodation and local tour guides and businesses and stay away from unhealthy practices that will further increase environmental damage.
What we can do to help
Despite the severity of the situation, there are several changes we can make that will prove effective in the saving of the coral reefs and the prevention of further damage.
- Minimize the use of fertilizer and pesticides
These chemicals harm water quality because substances like nitrogen and phosphorus are washed into waterways and eventually end up in oceans where they spread and are highly toxic to corals and marine life.
- Choose sustainable seafood
If you must eat seafood, make sure that it is caught or farmed with minimal environmental and social impacts.
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen
As we already mentioned above, choose a sunscreen that is free of harmful chemicals that are toxic to reefs and all marine life.
- Volunteer
and spread the word
Seek out hotels or organizations that support cleaning and conservation efforts aimed at protecting marine life. Educate and be vocal bout the impact of our behaviors on the environment and the importance of being responsible tourists.
If you want to help and be more vocal in an effort to helps stop and prevent further reef damage, be sure to visit Safe The Reef and get more involved now!
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