But here’s a lesser-known truth: if you care about the planet, you should care about coral reefs.

Why Coral Reefs Matter (Even if You’re Landlocked)

Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, but they punch way above their weight.

• They support 25% of all marine species.
• They provide food, jobs, and coastal protection for over 1 billion people.
• They generate billions of dollars in tourism and fisheries revenue each year.

And yet, coral reefs are disappearing—fast. Climate change, overfishing, and pollution are pushing them to the brink.

To put it simply, if reefs don’t make it, neither do we.

That’s where you come in. This Earth Month, we’re inviting you to take five simple, powerful actions to support coral reef conservation, no matter where you live.

Let’s dive in.

1. Make a Donation That Goes the Distance  

When you make a monthly donation or one-time gift to CORAL, you’re not just giving money—you’re investing in lasting solutions. Your support helps us work alongside local communities around the world to reduce threats like overfishing, poor water quality, and unsustainable tourism. Our solutions are backed by science, driven by local leadership, and proven to help give corals a fighting chance to adapt to climate change.

We fund science-backed conservation strategies. We support local leadership. We protect the reef by protecting the people and places that depend on it. And we’re rapidly expanding (read the article here), all for the sake of coral reefs.

Every dollar you give helps scale real solutions. And this month, your dollar is actually worth double, thanks to our matching gift from Good Store! 

Click here to donate and be part of a future where reefs can thrive >

2. EcoGeek at Good.Store

Created with the planet at the forefront, this collection is the perfect Earth Month treat for yourself or your favorite Earth-loving friend.

3. Join a CORAL Insiders Dive Trip  

Wanna level up your love for the ocean? Come diving with us! CORAL Insiders takes you beyond digital engagement and into experiences where you’ll explore coral reefs, learn about real-world reef conservation, and meet the people on the frontlines of protecting these underwater worlds.

It’s part vacation, part behind-the-scenes access, and 100% unforgettable. Whether you’re new to diving or a seasoned pro, this is how you travel with impact.

4. Subscribe, Follow, Stay in the Loop  

Reef-saving science? We’ve got it. Inspiring stories from coastal communities? Yup. Gorgeous underwater pics to brighten your feed? Always.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, the eCurrent, and follow us on social media:

Our goals are to educate, entertain, and inspire you. We’ll keep you in the know with solid ocean content, delivered regularly.

5. Spread the Word  

Your voice matters. Really—whether you’re chatting with a friend, posting on social, or sharing an article, you’re helping more people understand why reefs matter.

This Earth Month, tell someone about coral reefs. Share your favorite CORAL post. Use your platform (big or small) to be a reef advocate.

Here’s an easy one. Share this article. Tag us. Let people know what you care about.

Ready to Get Involved?

This Earth Month, let’s do more than celebrate the planet. Let’s protect it—starting with the coral reefs that protect us. Saving coral reefs isn’t just for scientists or scuba pros…it’s for all of us. And this month is the perfect time to start.

Whether it’s a donation, a dive trip, or a post on social, your action makes a ripple. Let’s make waves together.

The post 5 Easy, Impactful Ways to Help Coral Reefs from Anywhere appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

What exactly is the Protocol Handbook?

The first of its kind, this coordinated water quality sampling project is a giant leap forward in giving water quality monitoring the spotlight it deserves. Reef health is directly affected by the quality of water being circulated in and around the MAR, and this guide will help us identify and potentially resolve the major issues contaminating these waters.

While many methods exist, our Western Caribbean Science and Programs teams partnered with others to create a unified methodology for water quality. The document is straightforward and provides a way for everyone to draw from the same framework and toward the same goal…to save our reefs from contaminants deriving from poor water quality.

This protocol was made possible by multiple partners and monitoring efforts across 90 sites in Mexico, Belize, and Honduras.

We’re happy to share our universal water quality monitoring protocol that can be used anywhere and everywhere reefs exist. This labor of love has been a group effort for over a decade, and we believe this protocol will make an immediate impact when implemented correctly and consistently.

Dr. Antonella Rivera

View and save the Protocol Handbook (PDF) here >

Why is unified water quality monitoring such a big deal for reefs?

Reef health is getting worse as years go by. In order to minimize stressors to the reef, we must first understand the cause. Is the decline caused by a lack of fish? Pollution? Sanitation issues?

In recent years, the MAR has been facing a major challenge – an increase in macroalgae that threatens its coral reefs. These blooms grow on corals, prevent larval settlement, and compete for space. This is due to low herbivore populations and nutrient contamination from wastewater management and agricultural activities. To tackle this problem, we need better data on nutrient levels and sources of pollution in the MAR ecosystem.

Cleaner Water = Healthier Reefs

That’s where this coordinated water quality monitoring program comes in.

The program is divided into two phases:

Phase 1 focuses on quantifying the human impacts derived from wastewater in priority sites where tourism has the most impact. Control sites that aren’t influenced by tourism-related fluctuations will also be included to provide quantitative data.

Phase 2 will expand the sampling sites to assess nutrient enrichment from other sources.

The project objective is to gather data with high spatial and temporal resolution at sites where tourism-related sewage is expected to be a dominant pollution source. Five sampling locations have been identified in each of the three most tourism-affected MAR countries – Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. These will be divided into three locations impacted by tourism and two control locations. Water quality parameters will be sampled monthly to quantify any changes in water quality.

Where You Come In

This handbook was created for anyone who wants to get involved in water quality management. Policy-makers, NGOs, water boards, service providers, and beyond are encouraged to interact and implement this protocol. We believe that a consistent approach to monitoring water quality can lead to more resilient reefs.

By monitoring marine water quality, we can assess the health of our oceans and human impact on our marine ecosystem. This helps us to implement mitigation actions to prevent environmental degradation and protect marine life. Let’s all do our part to protect our oceans and preserve them for generations to come!

The post Marine Water Quality Protocol Now Available for Mesoamerican Reef System [Comprehensive Guide] appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

Effective Management

Why are MPAs so important to our mission, you ask? They can be as effective as national parks for areas of preserved land.  But only if they are truly managed effectively.  What we don’t want is “paper parks” – parks that are established but then lack sufficient management and enforcement of regulations and conservation plans.  Any park can look good on paper but an effective MPA takes the work of many nonprofits, local governments, and community stakeholders.

In the Western Caribbean, CORAL is working hard to reduce local threats to coral reefs within marine protected areas (MPAs) and to construct regional collaborations that facilitate better protection and regulation of these ocean zones. MPAs are critical if we want vital ecological entities like the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR) – which stretches 625 miles along the coast of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras and is the largest reef network in the western hemisphere – to recover and heal from damages caused by overfishing, land-based pollution and unsustainable tourism. To give corals the best chance for adapting to climate change, CORAL focuses on what is putting them at risk, including improving MPA governance in Honduras, Belize and Mexico. But, why do MPAs matter?

Benefits of MPAs

Firstly, MPAs provide a sanctuary for marine species. With over 90% of the world’s fish stocks either fully fished or overfished, it is essential to protect the habitats and breeding grounds of marine species to ensure their survival. Fully and highly protected MPAs create safe spaces where fish populations can thrive, reproduce, and grow in numbers. In turn, this supports the larger oceanic ecosystem. MPAs help to ensure the long-term sustainability of our oceans and the fish that depend on them.

Secondly, MPAs help to protect biodiversity. The oceans are home to an incredible variety of life, from tiny plankton to massive whales, and everything in between. MPAs help to preserve this biodiversity by providing a range of habitats for different species. By protecting different types of habitats, such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and kelp forests, MPAs ensure that a diverse range of marine life can continue to exist in our oceans.

Thirdly, MPAs support local communities. Many coastal communities around the world depend on fishing for their livelihoods. MPAs provide a way to manage and sustainably use these resources, ensuring that fish populations do not become depleted, and fishing can continue for generations to come. MPAs can also attract tourists, providing a source of income for local economies and creating jobs in areas such as eco-tourism and marine research.

By working together to establish and manage MPAs, we can create a brighter future for our oceans and the people and animals that depend on them. So, let’s join forces and protect our oceans – together, we can make a difference!

The post What is a Marine Protected Area (MPA)? appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.