Give the Reef a Break traces it origins from the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) campaign.

The first IYOR campaign was initiated in 1997 in response to the increasing threats and loss of coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems.

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) partnered with government and non-government organizations to raise awareness of the state of coral reefs worldwide, and to encourage their conservation.

Although IYOR 1997 was a global success involving over 225 organizations in 50 countries and territories, the continued deterioration of many marine environments led to a revival and revitalization in 2008 of the first IYOR campaign.

Recognizing the urgent need to increase awareness and understanding about coral reefs and other marine environments, and to further conserve and manage them, the ICRI designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008).

Mālama Hawai‘i, in partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of the Mayor – Maui County, The Nature Conservancy, Coral Reef Outreach Network, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, coordinated the IYOR 2008 – Hawai‘i campaign.  Throughout 2008, thousands of people from all over the Hawaiian Islands participated in IYOR-related community activities to help improve the health of Hawaii’s living reefs.

To learn more about IYOR, please visit www.iyor.org.