Celebrate World Reef Day - It’s your Reef Too!

World Reef Day is an annual celebration of coral reefs, held on June 1st. It kicks off ocean awareness month, also held yearly in June. It is used to raise awareness of the importance of these underwater ecosystems.

Coral reefs provide food, coastal protection, and income through fishing and tourism, and shelter millions of marine species.

Corals are increasingly threatened

Unfortunately, these amazing underwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices.

We asked Nature Seychelles’ Reef Rescuers what they wished people knew about coral reefs and threats. Here’s what they said.

“Coral reefs are out of sight and often out of mind,” says Luca, the team leader. “Most of us live our lives divorced from these underwater ecosystems. Nonetheless, they are part of our lives. I want everyone to know that they are not in good health. But we can help through direct actions such as the coral reef restoration we are carrying out, or indirect actions that reduce their threat levels such as not polluting the ocean.”

Seychelles reefs have been affected by coral bleaching

“Everyone can make a difference, whether you live near the ocean or not. It’s in small things like buying reef-safe sunscreen while on your holiday, or reducing plastics, or participating in coastal clean-up events because everything ends up in the ocean,” Lize, the land-based nursery manager, reiterates. “We need to look after the reef because it looks after us,” she added.

Praslinoise Athina wanted people to know how beautiful corals are. “There’s a whole world out there – a dynamic and underwater marvel that supports an array of marine life from nudibranchs to fish to sea turtles to reef sharks. Sadly, in Seychelles, they have been severely affected by coral bleaching. I want to educate young people about what this is and how coral reef restoration helps. It’s been my experience so far that they are attentive, curious, and they want to be involved to help them recover.”

The newest team member of the team, Charlotte says we need to protect the reefs as if our lives depended on them. “Because they really do!"

But how can an ordinary person help?

Education is key, says Praslinoise Athina

There are several indirect ways. Raise awareness among your friends, family, and community about coral reefs. Reduce your carbon footprint by conserving water and energy. Reduce pollution from various sources. Properly dispose of trash. If you have a boat, anchor in designated areas and use mooring buoys where available - don’t drop anchors on coral reefs.

You can also consider donating to or volunteering with organizations dedicated to conserving coral reefs.

This is what Zachary Wang, a volunteer scientific diver with the Reef Rescuers did. He said he came all this way to get involved in Nature Seychelles' coral restoration project because he wanted to see the benefits on a larger scale. He has helped stock nurseries and outplant corals. “It’s a rewarding process, seeing how all this works and observing the full recovery cycle."

Why should we care? “Because this is the tapestry of life that binds us together,” says Dr. Nirmal Shah, Nature Seychelles Chief Executive Officer. “Without it, our lives would become that much smaller and less rich.”