With the 2018 International Year of the Reef soon coming to a close, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week is highlighting the importance of maintaining the health of coral reefs.
One of the ways the public can help preserve coral reef ecosystems, especially during the Holiday Season, is to not buy jewelry made of corals, according to NOAA:
“Corals are popular as souvenirs, for home decor and in costume jewelry, yet corals are living animals that eat, grow, and reproduce. It takes corals decades or longer to create reef structures, so leave corals and other marine life on the reef.”
To find out more of what NOAA is doing for Corals Week, click here.
And for a list of upcoming coral reef conservation events around the world this month, check out the International Year of the Reef website at iyor2018.org.
