Harmful chemicals from sunscreen can damage coral. Here’s how to protect both your skin and the reefs.
But there are some bright ideas for offering reef relief. Some destinations, such as Hawaii and Palau, ban harmful sunscreens. Here’s how you can protect both your skin and coral reefs.
A diver swims above a garden of stony corals on the Great Barrier Reef, which is more than 1,250 miles long. Climate change poses a multitude of threats to this international treasure.
When you swim with sunscreen on, chemicals like oxybenzone can seep into the water, where they’re absorbed by corals. These substances contain nanoparticles that can disrupt coral’s reproduction and growth cycles, ultimately leading to bleaching.
Even if you don’t swim after applying sunscreen, it can go down drains when you shower. Aerosol versions of sunscreen can spray large amounts of the product onto the sand, where it gets washed into our oceans.
Humans might be responsible for this contamination, but we’re also capable of helping heal these fragile underwater ecosystems. On May 1, 2018, lawmakers in Hawaii passed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, another harmful chemical. Hawaii was the first state to pass such a measure, which went into effect as a law on January 1, 2021. (Read about a bright idea that could save the biggest reef on Earth.)
On November 1, 2018, the small island nation of Palau announced it too would ban selling or using sunscreens that contain chemicals harmful to coral reefs. Palau is a pristine archipelago known for having one of the largest marine reserves on the planet.
Even with government bans, certain types of sunscreen can be used to guard against burns and skin cancer. Use these tips on sunscreen and other ways to help you protect yourself and the corals.
Coral reefs all over the world are threatened by pollution, and many of the most popular destinations have the most at-risk coral. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the bays of Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Israel are especially vulnerable.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the planet’s most spectacular underwater treasures. The reef’s colorful corals serve as a submerged garden for a marine ecosystem that draws visitors to the area from all over the world. Snorkelers and scuba divers can swim alongside some of the thousands fish species that make the reef their home. Lucky travelers might even catch a glimpse of the resident dugongs or sea turtles.
Oahu’s Hanauma Bay, a state park that was formed within a volcanic cone, is another favorite destination. The area’s turquoise surf and vibrant coral gardens lure nearly one million tourists each year, making the spot one of Hawaii’s best places for snorkeling. The bay is home to 450 species of fish and has the largest mass of reef anywhere in Oahu.
Visitors to Hurricane Hole at the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, located off Saint John, can snorkel in the mangroves with coral, fish, and marine invertebrates. The submerged monument protects 22 miles of marine habitat, including 30 coral species.
At Israel’s popular Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, bridges built above the reefs allow visitors to get a peek at the coral and the colorful fish it houses. Scuba divers can also explore the reefs for a more intimate view.
If coral reefs die, we will have lost a vital ecosystem. We could also hurt our global economy—reefs are a major tourist attraction and source of income for these popular vacation spots. (Read about how one country is restoring its damaged ocean.)
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