Coral Reef Care is a Dutch foundation dedicated to the conservation and protection of marine ecosystems, with a special focus on coral reefs.
Coral Reef Care, or CRC, initiates and organizes reef conservation projects and raises public awareness about the importance of coral reefs and the threats they face. Our main conservation efforts are centered on the creation of additional marine protected areas.
While around 16% of the world’s land area is protected, less than 3% of the world’s oceans is seriously protected, even though water covers 70% of the Earth. Actively protecting a large marine area under the right circumstances enhances the ecosystem’s chances of recovery. Protected marine ecosystems provide refuge, breeding grounds, and food, which positively affect surrounding areas. This phenomenon, known as the spill-over effect, occurs when mature marine life migrates out of the protected area, benefitting adjacent ecosystems.
The world’s fish stocks are struggling to meet the current demand, due to population growth and unsustainable fishing practices. Most industrial fishing techniques also harm marine habitats and bycatch is common. If fishing isn’t essential to your livelihood, eating less fish or refraining from eating fish can help reduce pressure on marine ecosystems. However, many low-income coastal communities depend on fisheries for their food and income.
We aim to enhance the livelihood of local communities that rely on coral reefs. We believe that effective conservation projects are only possible when they involve and benefit the local community. By partnering with these communities and local non profit organizations, we create jobs in the conservation sector. These partnerships enable a range of activities such as restoring damaged reefs, reducing plastic waste, creating protected areas and protecting specific marine species. Healthier reefs lead to increased fish stocks and can boost tourism, providing alternative income sources for fishers.
