Coral reefs might only cover a small fraction of the ocean floor, but their impact stretches far beyond that. These underwater powerhouses provide food, jobs, clean water, and storm protection for over one billion people. They are one of the most biologically diverse and economically important ecosystems on Earth. 

But here’s the hard truth: they’re vanishing.

That’s why this year’s World Oceans Month is about more than raising awareness. It’s about rising together.

30 Days For Coral

All month long, we’re inviting everyone to participate in #30DaysForCoral—a global movement powered by people like you. Each day is an opportunity to show up for coral reefs in small but meaningful ways. Whether it’s choosing reef-safe sunscreen, donating to support community-led conservation, or tagging a friend to spread the word, every action counts.

Because when you protect coral reefs, you’re not just protecting fish and sea turtles (though they thank you too). You’re protecting people. And you’re protecting your future.

Why Coral Reefs Matter…to Everyone

If you’re reading this, you likely already know a thing or two about coral reefs. You might live by or vacation to the coast. You might be a diver, a surfer, a scientist, or someone who finds awe in the ocean. Part of celebrating World Oceans Month is making sure more people understand why coral reef protection isn’t a niche cause—it’s a global imperative.

Here’s what coral reefs do for humanity:

• Storm Protection – Reefs act as natural sea walls, absorbing up to 97% of wave energy from hurricanes and typhoons, shielding coastal communities from devastating floods.
• Food Security – Nearly 500 million people rely on reef fisheries for their primary source of protein.
• Economic Stability – Reefs contribute billions annually to global economies through tourism, fishing, and shoreline protection.
• Cultural Significance – In many coastal communities, coral reefs are deeply woven into traditional knowledge, spiritual practice, and daily life.

And yet, coral reefs are declining at an alarming rate. Climate change, overfishing, pollution, and poor coastal development have all taken a toll.

But here’s the hopeful part: when we reduce local threats, coral reefs have a better shot at surviving—and even thriving—in a changing climate.

Coral Reefs Are Resilient With Our Help

The story of coral reefs isn’t just about loss. It’s also about resilience. We’ve seen reefs rebound when local communities lead the charge and receive the tools, funding, and trust they need to protect their ecosystems.

That’s exactly what the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) does. We don’t plant or harvest corals. Instead, we support local communities with science-backed solutions that reduce direct threats to reefs, like untreated wastewater or overfishing. When these local pressures are reduced, reefs can better withstand global ones like warming oceans.

This year, we’re expanding our impact with new reef and community assessments in the Pacific Islands, the Coral Triangle, and the Southwestern Caribbean—laying the groundwork for deeper partnerships and broader change.

And none of it happens without people like you.

What Can You Do This Month? Start Small.

There’s a misconception that protecting coral reefs requires scuba gear, a science degree, or a massive donation. But the truth is small, visible choices made by many can drive massive change.

Here are three ways to get involved right now:

Share Why You Protect Reefs.

Post your own #30DaysForCoral message.
Share a favorite ocean memory, a reef photo, or your reason for caring.
Then tag a friend and invite them to join.

Make One Change

Switch to a reef-safe sunscreen or wear more sun shirts.
Skip single-use plastics for the month.
Choose sustainable seafood or try plant-based meals for the week.

Every small swap reduces stress on ocean ecosystems.

Support Community-Led Conservation.

Your donation supports real work on the ground—like training fishers in sustainable practices, building wastewater solutions, and conducting reef health assessments in climate-vulnerable areas.

Give now >

Let’s Reimagine What Ocean Action Looks Like

This World Oceans Month, we’re not just talking about ocean protection. We’re showing what it looks like when everyday people lead the way. When communities, companies, and individuals come together—not just to react to crisis, but to prevent it.

Because the future of coral reefs isn’t inevitable. It’s still being written.
And the authors? It’s us.

One Ocean. One Month. One Movement.

As we celebrate the month, let’s remember this: protecting coral reefs is protecting ourselves, our coastlines, our economies, our cultures, and our communities.

So join us. Not with fear—but with hope, intention, and action.

One choice at a time. One day at a time.
For 30 days. For coral. For all of us.

The post The Ocean Protects You Every Day—This Month, It’s Your Turn appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

Silent. Suspended. Deadly.

This is ghost gear. And it’s one of the most lethal forms of plastic pollution in the ocean.

What is ghost gear?

Ghost gear is any fishing equipment that’s been abandoned, lost, or discarded in the ocean. Nets, lines, ropes, crab pots, fish traps—they’re all part of the problem, lingering long after their intended use. And while these tools are no longer under human control, they continue to do exactly what they were designed to do: catch and kill.

Unlike a plastic bottle or candy wrapper, ghost gear is an apex predator. It’s a persistent threat that quietly damages marine ecosystems long after it’s been forgotten. But unlike natural predators, this one doesn’t belong—and we have the power to remove it.

A Predator With No Expiration Date

Every year, over 640,000 tons of ghost gear are left behind in the ocean. That’s heavier than the entire blue whale population on Earth. That’s more than the weight of 50,000 school buses, drifting silently through the sea. 

And unlike natural materials, most ghost gear is made from synthetic plastics that can take hundreds of years to break down. Until then, it drifts with the currents—snagging on reefs, ensnaring marine life, and gathering debris along the way like a slow-moving tumbleweed beneath the waves.

Turtles can mistake floating nets for jellyfish. Dolphins sometimes become entangled while hunting. Whales may swim into drifting lines they can’t avoid. Even seabirds diving for fish can get caught and struggle to break free.

And coral reefs? They’re far from immune.

How Ghost Gear Attacks Coral Reefs

Corals may look like rocks, but they’re actually living animals—sensitive and essential to ocean life. When ghost gear makes contact, it can damage coral structures by breaking pieces loose, blocking the sunlight they need to grow, and leaving them more vulnerable to stress and disease.

The damage isn’t just physical. Ghost gear breaks the reef’s rhythm. It disrupts the fish populations corals rely on. It alters water flow and reshapes entire ecosystems. It can take decades for a reef to recover—if it recovers at all.

For reefs already stressed by heat, pollution, and acidification, ghost gear can be the final blow.

Where It Comes From

Some gear is lost during storms. Some is cut loose when it snags on something deep below. Sometimes fishers abandon damaged nets because there’s no place to dispose of them—or because they’re operating illegally and need to vanish quickly.

In crowded waters, gear gets tangled or buried. In remote waters, it’s simply lost or forgotten.

But it doesn’t stay gone. Ghost gear drifts across oceans, washing ashore in one country after being lost in another. It’s a global problem with no borders.

The Human Fingerprint

You’re closer to ghost gear than you may think.

Every time we eat seafood, we support a supply chain that may be contributing to the problem—especially if the source isn’t traceable or sustainable. Every plastic product we buy reinforces a system that makes cheap, durable, disposable gear the default.

Even tourism plays a role. Boats, anchor lines, beach litter, broken snorkeling gear—if it ends up in the water and stays there, it can become ghost gear too.

Fighting Back

The good news? People are doing something about it. WE are doing something about it.

In 2023, 11.3 kilometers (roughly 7 miles) of illegal fishing nets were confiscated by patrol boats in Tela, Honduras. In 2024, 4.4 kilometers of illegal fishing nets and 159 pieces of illegal fishing gear (gillnets, cast nets, and harpoons) were confiscated by patrol boats in Honduras.

In addition to our work, divers are pulling nets off coral reefs, one tangled mess at a time. Conservation groups are tracking gear hotspots using satellites and drones. Scientists are designing biodegradable nets that break down instead of lingering forever. Some fisheries are switching to gear that’s easier to find and retrieve.

And ordinary people are helping too—by asking where their seafood comes from. By supporting organizations removing ghost gear and picking up that fishing line they find on the beach instead of walking past it.

It doesn’t take much to make a dent. But it takes awareness to act.

Let’s Call It What It Is

This isn’t just litter, it’s a trap. A plastic predator that kills indiscriminately, without pause, without oversight, and without borders. If we care about coral reefs, marine life, and the health of our oceans, then addressing ghost gear has to be part of the conversation.

We need awareness. We need pressure on the industries and governments that allow ghost gear to pile up. And we need more people who are willing to see what lies beneath the surface—and fight for what’s still living there.

Because reefs can’t pull nets off themselves. But we can.

The post Ghost Gear is Killing Coral Reefs and No One is Talking About It appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

These aren’t distant problems. They’re happening now—and they’re reversible. Here’s how different types of pollution directly impact coral reefs and what we can do to stop the damage.

Nutrient Pollution Overfeeds the Ocean

Imagine dumping fertilizer into a tropical garden nonstop—eventually, things overgrow, choke each other out, and die. That’s what happens when excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter coastal waters. These nutrients come from agricultural runoff, leaking septic systems, and untreated sewage. And they don’t just disappear.

Once in the ocean, they act as fuel for algae. The result? Massive blooms that blanket coral reefs, block out sunlight, and outcompete corals for space. When these algae die, they decompose and consume oxygen from the water, creating low-oxygen “dead zones” where coral and fish struggle to survive.

Worse, these conditions invite pathogens. Nutrient pollution has been linked to spikes in coral diseases like white syndrome and black band disease, which can spread rapidly across entire reef systems.

Main sources

• Fertilizers and manure from farms and lawns
• Poorly treated sewage and septic overflow
• Rainwater runoff from cities and roads

Impact on reefs

• Algal overgrowth that smothers coral
• Increases risk of coral disease and mortality
• Lower oxygen levels and light availability

What you can do

Support wastewater upgrades and local clean water initiatives. At home, choose organic or low-phosphorus products and be mindful of what goes down your drain.

Sediment Turns Coral Reefs Into Dustbowls

Healthy coral reefs need clean water—sunlight powers their symbiotic algae, which feed the corals from within. But when land-based sediment washes into the ocean, it clouds the water and settles on reef surfaces like a suffocating blanket.

This sediment usually comes from poorly managed construction sites, deforested areas, and overgrazed pastures. With no vegetation to hold soil in place, rain sweeps mud and debris into rivers that lead straight to the sea.

Once it reaches the reef, sediment does real damage. It blocks light, preventing photosynthesis. It clogs coral mouths, interfering with feeding. And it makes it harder for coral larvae to settle and grow—slowing reef recovery and disrupting the delicate balance of life.

Read about our work in Maui to reduce sedimentation smothering the reef >

Main sources

• Land clearing and construction
• Unregulated agriculture
• Erosion from poorly managed landscapes

Impact on reefs

• Reduces sunlight critical for coral survival
• Smothers coral polyps and disrupts feeding
• Hinders growth and reef regeneration

What you can do

Support smart coastal development and reforestation. When traveling or living near the coast, look for businesses that practice sustainable land management.

Plastic Waste Brings Disease

It’s easy to think of plastic pollution as a surface problem—bottles bobbing in the waves, nets tangled in sea turtles. But look closer beneath the surface, and you’ll find plastic has become a chronic threat to coral reefs. It’s showing up in the most remote places on Earth—reef systems once considered untouched now littered with debris.

Floating plastic doesn’t just ruin the view. As it drifts through the ocean, it collides with coral structures, scraping delicate polyps and creating wounds that leave them vulnerable to infection. Larger debris, like discarded fishing gear or plastic bags, can get snagged on the reef, physically breaking coral branches and blocking sunlight.

But the problem goes deeper—literally. As plastic breaks down, it releases microscopic fragments called microplastics, and these aren’t just inert particles. Scientists have discovered that microplastics act like little rafts for harmful bacteria and pathogens. When these bacteria-laden plastics make contact with coral, they dramatically increase the risk of disease—up to 89% higher, according to some studies.

One particularly insidious effect is how plastic changes the coral microbiome—the collection of beneficial bacteria that help coral stay healthy. Disrupting this microbial balance makes coral more susceptible to stress, disease, and bleaching. And unlike a one-time event like an oil spill, plastic keeps accumulating. It never truly goes away.

Main sources

• Single-use plastics (bags, wrappers, packaging)
• Abandoned or lost fishing gear
• Microfibers from clothing, cleaning cloths, and hygiene products

Impact on reefs

• Cuts, abrasions, and physical damage to coral
• Reduced sunlight exposure
• Increased rates of disease and infection
• Disrupted coral microbiome

What you can do

Reducing plastic use might feel small, but it makes a big difference. Choose reusable items over disposables, avoid products with microbeads or glitter made from plastic, and support local and global efforts to reduce marine plastic pollution.

Oil and Chemicals Poison the Reef One Drop at a Time

We often think of oil spills as rare catastrophes—but oil and chemical pollution happen every day in smaller ways. Storm drains flush chemicals from roads, lawns, and factories straight into the sea. Farms spray pesticides that wash into coastal waters. Even tiny spills from boats add up over time.

Oil is especially toxic to coral. It coats their surface, suffocates polyps, and interferes with reproduction. Juvenile corals are particularly vulnerable, with exposure often leading to stunted growth or death. Chemical pollutants like mercury, lead, and pesticides accumulate in reef species, weakening coral and the creatures they shelter.

Unlike physical damage, these toxins often linger—building up in the reef’s food web and altering life on a microscopic level. In high enough concentrations, they can wipe out entire reef sections and make recovery nearly impossible.

Where it comes from

• Oil spills, fuel leaks, and marine transport
• Pesticides, herbicides, and industrial waste
• Household chemicals and automotive runoff

Why it matters

• Interferes with coral reproduction and growth
• Kills coral larvae and juvenile reef species
• Contaminates reef food webs and ecosystems

What you can do

Dispose of chemicals properly and avoid toxic pesticides. Support policies that hold polluters accountable and invest in safer, cleaner alternatives.

Sunscreen Is a Silent Coral Killer

Most people don’t think twice about slathering on sunscreen before diving into the ocean—but what protects our skin can be deadly to coral reefs. Many commercial sunscreens contain chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been shown to cause coral bleaching, deform coral larvae, and damage DNA.

Don’t miss the other 6 harmful ingredients. You can read more in our article Sunscreen 101 >

These effects can happen at incredibly low concentrations—just a single drop in a swimming pool-sized area of water can be enough to disrupt coral development. The chemicals wash off swimmers, rinse down the drain in showers, and end up in the ocean through wastewater systems.

Over time, this chemical cocktail builds up in coastal areas, especially in popular tourist zones. Even reefs that appear healthy can be silently weakened by long-term chemical exposure.

Where it comes from

• Chemical sunscreens used by swimmers and divers
• Wastewater and stormwater runoff

Why it matters

• Causes bleaching and tissue damage
• Disrupts coral hormones and DNA
• Reduces coral resilience and reproductive success

What you can do

Switch to mineral-based sunscreen with non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Wear sunshirts and dive skins for sun protection. These alternatives protect your skin without harming the reef.

A Cleaner Ocean Starts With Us

Pollution is a complex problem, but the solutions are within reach. At CORAL, we work with communities to reduce local threats—from upgrading sewage systems to promoting reef-safe tourism and sustainable development. 

And you don’t have to live near a reef to make a difference.

Reefs may be resilient, but they’re not invincible. Every piece of plastic skipped, every cleaner product used, and every advocacy effort adds up. Small changes ripple outward—and those ripples are what coral reefs need most.

The post How Pollution Threatens Coral Reefs and What We Can Do About It appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.