How to Help Prevent Coral Bleaching

Last Updated: November 8, 2021 References

When corals become white in color, losing their vibrant colors, this is known as coral bleaching. This occurs due to algae known as zooxanthellae being expelled from coral when it is stressed out, as a result of changes occurring in the ocean's environment, such as an increase in temperature. If the warm temperature continues, the algae won't be able to return to the coral, causing the coral to die. Reefs seldom return once coral dies, and if there aren't many that survive, they have a difficult time reproducing, thus causing entire reef ecosystems to deteriorate, which are depended on by wildlife and people. Coral bleaching is caused primarily by climate change, though it can also be caused by excessive sunlight, tides that are very low or pollution. ^{[1]
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Research source} While coral bleaching is unfortunate, there are some steps you can take to help prevent it.

1

Be sure to recycle.

Recycling is one of the first things you can do to help prevent coral bleaching. Recycle anything that you know can be recycled ^{[2]
X
Research source} (such as, for example, plastics or paper ^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
Go to source} ) and encourage people you know to do the same.
- If you are unsure of whether your local recycling program will accept something to be recycled, contact them before you try and recycle it.
- If you don't have a recycling program near you, if you'd like, you can consider starting one. However recycling businesses can be a big undertaking, so if you are unable to start one, do some research and find a recycling center near you to take your recyclables to.
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2

Conserve water.

Using less water means that less runoff and waste water will end up in the ocean. ^{[4]
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Research source} There are several steps that you can take to conserve water, such as: ^{[5]
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Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
Go to source}
- Purchasing products that have the EPA's WaterSense label
- Turning off the faucet when you're brushing your teeth or shaving
- Taking shorter showers
- Only running your dishwasher and doing your laundry with full loads
- Putting scraps of food in a compost pile instead of using your garbage disposal
- Fixing any leaks as soon as possible after you notice them

3

Make sure you do not pollute.

Preventing pollution is important so that chemicals and other pollutants don't reach waterways. ^{[6]
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Research source} Some of the ways you can prevent pollution include making sure you do not put any waste into waterways, nor leave trash near them. ^{[7]
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Research source} There are also other steps you can take to prevent waterway pollution. ^{[8]
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- Wash any outdoor equipment or your car in an area where it will flow into a grassy area or onto gravel instead of on the street.
- Avoid pouring motor oil down drains (you may be able to take it to your nearest auto parts store instead for free).
- Do not hose spills into storm drains. Instead, use sand, kitty litter, or anything else that is absorbent and place it on the spill. Once you notice that the liquid is now solid, sweep it and dispose of it in a trash can.
- Make sure fertilizer that gets on paved areas is swept or blown onto grass. You'll also want to avoid putting fertilizer on grass if it's going to rain shortly after, since the chemicals can end up in waterways and storm drains.
- Mulch or compost waste from your grass or the yard. If you are unable to compost or mulch the waste, you can also keep it in your yard, taking care to make sure it won't end up on paved areas.
- Avoid blowing leaves in the street. This can cause damage to storm drains and clog them.
- Pick up any trash that you notice, being sure to use gloves and wash your hands after.
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4

Avoid harming coral reefs when you're visiting them.

If you're visiting a reef near you or while you're on vacation, be sure that you and anyone else with you doesn't harm the coral reef and keeps it healthy. There are a few different things that you can do in order to help keep coral reefs healthy when you're visiting them. ^{[9]
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- Follow all local rules, guidelines, customs and regulations. If you are unsure of what those are, look for a sign in the area or ask local authorities.
- As mentioned earlier, avoid pollution. Make sure you throw trash in trash cans, and items that can be recycled in recycling bins rather than leaving it on the beach.
- Consider hiring a local guide. This way, you'll not only be learning firsthand knowledge about the reef and the surrounding area, but you'll be supporting a local business that likely tries not harm the reef.
- Avoid touching the coral you see if you're diving. This can harm the coral animals. Similarly, touching the bottom of the sea can result in sediment that is stirred up settling on coral and smothering it.
- Consider partaking in a Fish Count. This is a great way for you to learn about the fish in the area you're in and about fish surveys. ^{[10]
  X
  Research source} Do some research and find out if there's a fish count happening where you're vacationing or in your area.

5

Avoid using herbicides and pesticides.

This is another daily action you can take to help lessen the loss of coral reefs. ^{[11]
X
Research source} Pesticides and herbicides can enter ground or surface water, and enter rivers and streams, thus harming waterways. ^{[12]
X
Research source} Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, consider alternative methods of handling weeds and other pests in your garden. ^{[13]
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Research source}
- If you're having problems with weeds or pests, use the Beyond Pesticides Pest and Weed Database to find ways that you can manage them without the use of pesticides.
- Avoid products that are labeled as "weed and feed", since these contain herbicides that can be harmful. Opt for fertilizers that are plant-based or natural, since can help improve the health of your soil and are slow-release.
- Be sure to read the ingredients of any mulch you purchase, since mulch can sometimes be treated using herbicides.
- Consider making your own organic pesticide for an environmentally-friendly way to handle pests in your garden.
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6

Reduce runoff from stormwater.

This can help with decreasing flooding, protecting our sources of water, and preventing water pollution. There are a few ways that you can do this, including using rain barrels for collecting rainwater that would otherwise end up in storm drains, installing water catchments or putting in rain gardens. ^{[14]
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Trustworthy Source
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
Go to source}
- Similarly, reducing fertilizer runoff is another way to help prevent coral bleaching. ^{[15]
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  Research source}

7

Ensure what you purchase doesn't harm the ocean.

If you purchase coral products, ask what country the coral was obtained from, and what that country's management plan (if they even have one) is for ensuring legal, sustainable harvesting. Also, avoid starting live rock aquariums, since collecting can harm reefs, and is illegal in many areas. In addition, if you purchase marine aquarium fish, ensure that they were collected in a way that is ecologically sound, since in some places, marine fish that are harvested to be pets may be stunned using sodium cyanide to make the process to capture them easier. ^{[16]
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- Once again, you can also purchase products with the EPA's WaterSense label to ensure that you're purchasing water-efficient products that perform well. ^{[17]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
  Go to source}
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8

Report dumping or anything else illegal you notice.

Since it is impossible for environmental enforcement to be everywhere at the same time, reporting dumping or anything else illegal you see occurring can be very helpful to them. You can report violations on the EPA's ECHO page . ^{[18]
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- If you notice something that could immediately threaten the environment and/or human health, contact emergency services right away. ^{[19]
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- If you notice someone dumping things into storm drains, you can also research the local water conservation authority (it might be referred to as something different, such as simply the "water authority") and call them.

9

Use mooring buoy systems if you're boating.

Instead of anchoring on a reef when you're boating, mooring buoy systems (if you find one) can be a good alternative. ^{[20]
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Research source} These can usually be found where boats typically anchor, though instead of anchoring, you'd tie the boat off to the mooring. This can decrease the amount of damage to coral reefs, since anchors can rip them. ^{[21]
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- Mooring buoy systems require professional knowledge and expertise to install, as well as a relatively large team of people ^{[22]
  X
  Research source} , so you likely won't be able to install one in the water yourself if you can't find one unless you have this expertise and knowledge.
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10

Keep an eye on your wastewater.

Ensure that the wastewater from yours and others boats, as well as the wastewater from land is treated correctly. This is important, because sewage nutrients can feed algae that is growing, smothering corals and killing them. ^{[23]
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Research source}
- If your boat wastewater isn't treated correctly, you can use a marine sanitation devices (MSD) to do so. There are three types:
  - Type I , which are flow-through devices and can be used for vessels that have a length of as much as 65 feet (20 m), and use a combination of maceration and disinfection for treating sewage from the vessel. The effluent is then exposed to disinfectants (frequently chlorine tablets) after the solids are pulverized, which reduce the levels of bacteria to levels that are lower than the Clean Water Act's limits. However, sometimes from the saltwater, bactericide is generated using special electrodes, meaning no disinfectant products will need to be added. ^{[24]
    X
    Trustworthy Source
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    Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
    Go to source}
  - Type II , which are also flow-through devices that can be used on vessels which are larger. They are biological systems that first aerate sewage, to allow bacteria in the sewage already to thrive and start to break down/consume the sewage for food. Like with Type I devices, the rest of the liquid waste is treated through contact with UV disinfection, chlorine tablets or other disinfection methods. Since they are a biological system, their treatment levels can be better than Type I devices. ^{[25]
    X
    Trustworthy Source
    United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
    Go to source}
  - Type III , which are holding tanks that don't treat sewage on the vessel. They are made to stop overboard discharge from occurring, as well as store sewage effluent. ^{[26]
    X
    Trustworthy Source
    United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
    Go to source}
- Keep in mind as well that it is illegal to discharge sewage that is raw or treated insufficiently within 3 miles (4.8 km) from shore, or if you are in a no-discharge zone. ^{[27]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
  Go to source}

11

Volunteer to help out at a reef cleanup.

If you live near a coral reef, do some research and find out if there's a reef cleanup happening near you in the near future. If not, then consider taking a trip to one at some point or visiting one if you go on vacation and helping out with a cleanup. ^{[28]
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- If you live near one but there isn't a reef cleanup happening anytime soon, do some research and find out what you'd have to do to organize a reef cleanup in your area.
- Volunteering in general can be helpful. Do some research and see if there is a coral reef monitoring program near you, and consider helping out. You can also help out with any volunteer programs for cleaning up rivers or other waterways near you, since all watersheds will affect oceans, and then coral reefs at some point. ^{[29]
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12

Consider making a donation to an organization working to help coral reefs.

Several conservation organizations are working to help coral reefs. ^{[30]
X
Research source} Do some research by using websites such as Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau to find reputable organizations to make a donation to.
- Some examples of environmental organizations working to protect coral reefs include Oceana and the Coral Restoration Foundation, to name just two.

13

Discuss coral bleaching with others.

If your family, friends, or anyone else you know doesn't know about coral bleaching, consider having a discussion with them about it, especially if helping the ocean comes up in a conversation with them. Let them know what coral bleaching is, and some of the things you've been doing to help prevent it. You can also discuss the advice in this article with them if you'd like.
- If you notice them doing something that could harm the waterways and/or contribute to coral bleaching, politely let them know and tell them why what they are doing is harmful to the waterways and/or contributes to coral bleaching.
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Consider becoming a member of your local zoo or aquarium. This way, you can learn about what they're doing to help coral reefs in general, and potentially make a monetary donation. ^{[31]
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