Go (help a reef) fish!

And remember that conservation of coral reefs means support for all of the species that live there, even if they aren't fish! Photo courtesy of USFWS

And remember that conservation of coral reefs means support for all of the species that live there, even if they aren’t fish! Photo courtesy of USFWS

Over the last few weeks, I’ve described some of the big challenges facing reef fish and the coral reefs they inhabit- some of those issues are very big, such as the scale of climate change and ocean acidification, and some of those issues occur on a much smaller scale, such as when fishermen use cyanide to stun fish for capture. While we may not be able to turn back the clock on all of these issues, there are things we can each do to help support these fish and their homes.

In your daily life

If you want to support conservation efforts from a distance

If you’d like to get more directly involved, there are lots of options- some of these involve scuba diving, but some organizations will train you-

So there are lots of ways we can all get involved in reef fish conservation- hopefully you can find something that matches your available time and interests- and don’t forget about volunteering with a local aquarium- educating the public is a great way to expand conservation efforts!