Barrier reef off Grande Terre, New Caledonia, France

© Karsten Wrobel/Getty Image

Barrier reef off Grande Terre, New Caledonia, France

'Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there,' Sebastian the crab once told Ariel. But are we doing enough to protect that underwater world? Today's image features the New Caledonian barrier reef, which wraps around Grande Terre, New Caledonia's largest island.

At over 1,500 kilometres long, it's one of the longest continuous barrier reefs in the world. Its vast 24,000-square-kilometre lagoon is home to over 2,300 fish species, endangered dugongs, green sea turtles and migrating humpback whales. However, reefs like this face growing threats—from pollution, mining runoff, rising ocean temperatures and even harmful sunscreens. Increased tourism can also strain these fragile ecosystems. So, let us do our bit and commit to reef-friendly choices: use reef-safe sunscreen, reduce plastic waste and support conservation efforts in your community or online.