How travelers can help protect the Great Barrier Reef

How travelers can help protect the Great Barrier Reef

Our tips on how you can help protect the Great Barrier Reef, the largest living structure on Earth

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is a natural treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest reef system on earth and includes 900 islands, 2,900 reefs with 400 species of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 species of molluscs! It is also threatened.

In 2016, experts found that about 35% of corals in the northern and central sections of the Great Barrier Reef are dead or dying. This frightening trend has several causes: climate change, poor water quality from land-based runoff, coastal development, illegal fishing, damage from major storms, and the proliferation of crown-of-thorns starfish.

Rising water temperatures put corals under strain because they are extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations. This leads to coral bleaching, a process in which corals turn white after expelling the symbiotic algae living in their tissues. The algae provide up to 90% of the coral's energy. Bleached corals continue to live but begin to starve after bleaching.

The forecast looks bleak, which is why sustainable tourism is more important than ever. Here we share information about how you can reduce the impact of your visit and help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

1. Choose eco-certified tour operators

Visiting the reef by responsible marine tourism companies is a good way to support conservation efforts. It is important to ensure that the provider you choose is certified by Ecotourism Australia.

Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that promote understanding, appreciation and protection of the environment and culture. – Ecotourism Australia

When you choose an Ecotourism Australia certified operator, you can be confident that they are certified as sustainable by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

alt="Protection of the Great Barrier Reef Coral Expeditions">Atlas & BootsCoral Expeditions are certified by Ecotourism Australia

We chose Coral Expeditions for a small expedition to the Great Barrier Reef. Certified operators like Coral Expeditions use resources wisely, contribute to environmental protection, help local communities and educate customers about the local environment and marine life.

Operators claiming to be certified should provide proof of accreditation on their website (like here). If this cannot be found, be prepared to ask questions such as: B. What are they doing to minimize their impact on the local ecosystem?

2. Use less plastic

One of the biggest threats to marine life is plastic. With over five trillion pieces already thought to be polluting our oceans, reducing our plastic consumption – especially single-use items like bottles and straws – is essential to protecting the environment.

This starts at home by reducing plastic consumption when shopping, eating out or drinking your morning coffee. There are countless ways to travel in an environmentally friendly way while on vacation. Start by reading about the growing number of plastic-free initiatives and following their promises to help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

3. Participate in citizen scientist programs

There are a growing number of conservation foundations, charities, national parks and eco-friendly hotels running citizen science programs in the Great Barrier Reef. These encourage travelers to actively contribute to the long-term protection of the reef.

alt="Interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef in Australia">Atlas & BootsCitizen scientist programs encourage travelers to take an active role in conservation

The Reef Citizen Science Alliance is a network of sustainable, collaborative and innovative citizen science programs based in the Great Barrier Reef. A list of the programs they work with can be found here.

Among them are CoralWatch and Eye on the Reef, which rely on visitors to upload GPS-tagged images and videos of coral bleaching, stranded wildlife and other observations that help support conservation programs in their research and work.

4. Volunteer in a reef conservation project

You can take it a step further by volunteering in marine conservation projects. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has an extensive and growing list of organizations where like-minded people can volunteer for group activities or collect data and contribute to the cause in their free time.

Some projects even include a scuba diving course, making them an ideal way to help protect the reef while you get your certification.

5. Look, take photos, but never touch

This should go without saying, but we have even seen instructors in other countries break this golden rule. Whether you're swimming, snorkeling, or diving, resist the urge to reach out and touch what you see.

Corals are made up of thousands of polyps – tiny animals similar to anemones and jellyfish – that are incredibly delicate. These can be killed by simply touching them or by stirring up sediment that can suffocate them.

alt="Protect the Great Barrier Reef's Coral Garden">Atlas & BootsCorals are made up of thousands of polyps that are incredibly delicate

When diving in reef systems, take special care to practice neutral buoyancy and always pay attention to your fins to minimize stirring up sediment.

6. Choose a reef-safe sunscreen

In 2015, a report estimated that around 14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in the world's coral reefs, causing irreversible damage. This year, Hawaii became the first US state to ban sunscreens that are harmful to coral reefs.

The bill bans the sale of sunscreens that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which scientists say contribute to coral bleaching. These chemicals can kill developing corals, increase coral bleaching, and cause genetic damage to corals and other marine life.

There are now a growing number of reef-safe sunscreen brands that avoid these harmful ingredients, helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

7. Choose sustainable seafood

You can help protect the Great Barrier Reef by thinking a little more carefully about the type of seafood you eat. Overfishing is a major problem in the world's oceans, particularly in reef systems, so avoiding seafood out of season is one way to help.

It's worth reading Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide to help you make informed seafood choices.

8. Or none at all...

You could go one step further and eliminate meat and fish from your diet entirely. A recent study suggests that avoiding meat and dairy is the “single biggest way” to reduce your environmental impact on the planet.

A vegan diet is probably the biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but also global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water consumption. It's far bigger than cutting back on your flights or buying an electric car. – Joseph Poore, University of Oxford, UK

9. Don't buy coral products

Finally, purchasing coral jewelry and other types of coral souvenirs only contributes to the decline of coral systems around the world. Avoid these products to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

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