How you can help
We divers all want to conserve the beautiful reefs we are diving in. But the increasing popularity of scuba diving has also put more strain on coral reefs around the world. Divers, specially underwater photographers and beginners sometimes make contact with fragile corals, breaking them or damaging them and leaving them susceptible to bacterial attack and disease. Boat anchors from dive boats also contribute to the damage caused by recreational diving. In my opinion dive operators also should not tolerate scuba divers who are spearfishing for fun.
Enjoy the underwater scenery without touching and moving fish and corals. Good meaning tourists feed reef fishes, but this results in changing their feeding behavior and don’t graze on algaes anymore which can choke the corals. Do not harass, play and touch fish and other marine life as you might injure these fragile creatures, Watch and observe only!
An unspoiled healthy reef environment can be appreciated and enjoyed by all divers. Anchors and other heavy objects can cause indiscriminate destruction. Boatmen should take extreme care in anchoring their dive boats. If available, use moorings!
Do not dispose of your garbage along the beaches and into the ocean, these trashes can cause immense harm to marine life. Plastic bags are often confused with jellyfish. Turtles and some fish swallow these bags and because they can’t digest them, the bags block their digestive tracts, causing the animals to starve to death.
The disposal of waste into the ocean is a major environment threat and a deadly enemy to marine life. Human sewage flows into coastal waters and leads to the rapid growth of algae which chokes coral polyps, cutting off their supply of light and oxygen.
Power of The Consumer
You can either choose to contribute to the continued decline of marine life or play a positive role in preserving our aquatic natural resources.
For example by not eating or purchasing turtle eggs or meat, you will decrease the demand for these products and therefore the need for the supply. Choose pelagic fishes like tuna and mackerels or aquacultured fish (Napoleon and lobsters are not aquacultured!) and avoid eating reef fish altogether.
As a marine fish hobbyist you can choose more robust aquarium species from sustainable sources instead of buying fish caught in coral reefs.
As a tourist you can avoid buying curios made with the dead remains of marine creatures such as shells, dried seahorses or dead corals. Also tell people not to walk on corals – they often don’t know corals are living animals or that they brake them by walking on them.
As a consumer you can choose to buy items with less packaging, generating less trash and recycle whenever possible.
As a diver you can help by choosing dive operators who support environmental initiatives.
It is all about making the right choices!
Spreading The Word
Share your knowledge on marine conservation! Tell others about life in the coral reefs and their importance to future generations and about conserving the marine resources.
If you have a website – By linking to OceanHeritage.com.ph, you help to spread our words, and raise the awareness for the need to conserve and preserve our marine environment. This awareness is very important, because with the knowledge of how and why there’s a need for this need, then only we humans will make the right choice, and knowing how little things do affect our environment.
Partner Links
Mongolia Holiday: All you need to know about Ecotourism in Mongolia.
