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Boycott damaging fishing methods. Volunteer to support reef science. Help organizations dedicated to protecting coral reefs. Tell others about coral reefs. Pressure politicians to support reefs.
If you consume fish caught in a way that damages coral reefs, you are part of the problem. Not using products obtained through damaging the environment is a way to help protect the reefs. Understand which fish are caught in a way that damages reefs, and spread the word.  In some countries, people actually blow up coral reefs with explosives so they can more easily catch the fish that cluster around them. Then, they sell the fish to restaurants and stores. Another devastating fishing method involves putting cyanide into the water to stun fish. This kills the coral reefs around them.  Overfishing is another way that damage is caused to coral reefs. There is economic pressure in some countries to fish in this manner because coral reefs can provide as much as one-quarter of the fish eaten in some developing countries.   Don't eat fish caught with bottom trawling methods. Bottom trawling is so damaging that it can destroy reefs that could live for thousands more years and exist deep in the ocean. An example of a fish sometimes caught through bottom trawling is orange roughy. Since 1998, the U.S. government has extensively mapped coral reefs to track their decline. The governmental efforts often link with private groups that accept donations and volunteers, as well as state and local efforts to protect reefs. Global efforts also exist to protect reefs.  In Australia, the government has created ways for people to get involved to help protect the Great Barrier Reef. The government has created a monitoring program that allows average people to contribute to reef protection by reporting their own observations and data.   Scientists study detailed maps that alert them to bleaching of coral reefs, which can be caused by rising sea temperatures and algal blooms.   The data is so sophisticated that scientists receive updates every hour, focusing on coral reefs in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They monitor barometric pressure, tide levels, air and water temperature, and other factors important to coral reefs. Scientists are breeding coral reefs and then testing different varieties in environments with greater acidity and other conditions.  They have also found ways to plant corals in the ocean and to spur their growth by using electrical currents. There are many organizations that work hard to stop destruction of coral reefs.  Some even build artificial reefs to replace destroyed or damaged coral reefs.  The Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Relief, and Planetary Coral Reef Foundation are examples of private organizations trying to save coral reefs.  The organizations, and others like them, offer numerous ways for people to get involved.   You can sign up as a volunteer for a coral reef organization and become involved in events and education. Join a reef cleanup.  Many of the organizations rely on donations. Some reef protection organizations have educational programs for children. Reef Relief offers a coral camp in Key West, Florida to educate children about the value of coral reefs. Many people touch or otherwise harm coral reefs without intending to do so. They may simply not understand that reefs are full of fragile living creatures or realize that the smallest contact can cause them harm. Helping educate as many people as possible about coral reefs can make a difference.  Many non-profit organizations devoted to reef protection offer extensive information about reefs on their websites. You can sign a pledge refusing to use coral jewelry. Governmental websites, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, offer detailed information about coral reefs, their importance, and protection. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which was created by U.S. Congress, also works extensively on the issue.   The Coral Reef Alliance urges people to educate others about the importance of reefs, and has free social media badges available that people can share to alert others to their support for protecting coral.  They also offer e-cards. Legal mechanisms that protect coral reefs can be critical. Let your politicians know that you want them to support measures that will ensure coral reefs suffer less damage.  Creating marine protected areas is a measure that can make a difference.   Read up on local action strategies so you understand what is already being done in your area and others.   The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force develops federal and state strategies to protect coral reefs.