Take Only Photos Leave Only Bubbles Use mooring
Take Only Photos, Leave Only Bubbles Use mooring buoys, not anchors Do not chase or touch the marine life Buoyancy Control v. Improve your buoyancy control when diving v. Wear a floatation device when snorkelling v. Lie flat in the water and keep your legs straight v. Kick from the hips rather than the knees v. Do not kick up sand with your fins v. Do not touch, stand or rest on corals Litter Reef Facts Corals are living organisms which evolved 200 million years ago, making humans very young with only 10, 000 years on the Earth Corals grow incredibly slowly, no more than 10 cm per year. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the longest reef extending 2, 300 km, and has taken millions of years to build. Coral reefs cover only 0. 5% of the world’s ocean floor, but are home to 25% of all marine species on the planet There are 700 species of corals worldwide providing habitats to 4, 000 species of fish Greenfins v. Choose Greenfins accredited dive operators v. For more information go to: www. greenfins-thailand. org v. If you see any damage to the reef, littering or bad conduct please inform: info@greenfins-thailand. org Learn about and Respect the reef Up to 35 million people are dependent on the global reef economy which is valued at 29. 8 BILLION US$/year! The coral reef protects the coast from storms and tsunamis At present: 20% of coral reefs are effectively destroyed! 24% are surviving but in critical condition and under imminent collapse! 26% are threatened by man’s activities! v. Fish and reptiles such as turtles can mistake plastic bags and cigarettes for food, which can be fatal v. Batteries release toxic chemicals into the water poisoning the marine life and corals v. Always take your rubbish with you and dispose of it properly Seafood Restaurants v. Boycott restaurants which serve dishes of endangered species such as turtle soup or steak, shark steak and shark fin soup Feeding Fish v. It is bad practice to feed reef fish as it changes their feeding behaviour and they stop eating algae v. This then overgrows the corals and kills the reefs Do not buy souvenirs of coral or marine life www. projects-abroad. org Tel: 075 700 691
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