The Reefs
What is coral? Coral is a sea animal that comes in thousands of different species. Though it looks like a plant (autotroph), it is unable to produce its own food which means it classifies as a heterotroph (animal).
What is happening to coral reefs? Reefs around the world are dying or bleaching (a word that means a coral is stressed and loses it's color which usually makes it a blank white color; though coral can technically come back from bleaching, it usually dies after). This is a huge issue and has rapidly grown more serious in the last decade.
What is causing coral to bleach and die? There are many factors that contribute to the decrease in coral reefs. Here are the 5 main factors:
Water pollution
Careless diving/snorkeling
Poisonous fishing
Climate change
Plastic Waste
What is the Coral Restoration Foundation? The CRF is an amazing organization that raises money and does service for the coral reefs. They organize land and water service through their many volunteering programs, and we worked with them during our time in the Keys. All of our profits from our sales and fundraisers go to the Coral Restoration Foundation!