World Reef Awareness Day
Observed annually on June 1st, World Reef Awareness Day is a holiday that urgently encourages everyone to reflect on the state of coral reefs and how human activity has caused massive destruction to them. Approximately half of the world’s coral reefs have already been severely damaged or destroyed, and if this trend continues, then approximately 75% of them will be threatened by 2050.
This could prove disastrous for the world. Coral reefs protect coastlines from erosion and storms, are a source of food and new medicines, and support marine wildlife. We all must do our part to protect this important part of our ocean’s ecosystem before it’s too late.
The History of World Reef Awareness Day
This holiday was created by a natural sunscreen company known as Raw Elements. They created this holiday to highlight the problem of coral reef destruction and its impact on the environment. They conceived this holiday as a way to educate the general public on this issue so that action could be taken.
Protecting Coral Reefs
If you’re looking for more information on how to protect coral reefs, then you’ve come to the right place because we have it. Even if you don’t plan on visiting a reef, your daily actions may still impact reefs thousands of miles away from you. That’s why we’ve listed the following things that everyone can do to protect reefs:
- If you visit reefs, avoid touching them or anchoring your boat on them.
- Avoid sunscreens that contain harmful chemicals that can kill corals.
- Dispose of trash properly and recycle whenever possible.
- Avoid using fertilizers.
- Save energy at home and at work.
- Avoid purchasing living coral.
Observing World Reef Awareness Day
On World Reef Awareness Day, everyone is encouraged to educate themselves about the problem of coral reef destruction and what can be done to protect them. People can also take a few moments to think about how their decisions impact the environment and may lead to reef destruction.
Finally, people can use the hashtag #WorldReefAwarenessDay to spread the word about this holiday so that everyone can work together to stop the depletion of the world’s natural reefs.