Bonaire loves its reefs! Check your sunscreen for harmful ingredients before boarding your plane to Bonaire!
Bonaire’s Island Council unanimously approved a motion to ban sunscreen products containing Oxybenzone and Octinoxate.
Recent research indicates that chemical sunscreens harm the reefs.
There’s been quite some discussion in recent months about the damage to corals that sunscreen chemicals Oxybenzone and/or Octinoxate, commonly found in popular sunscreen products are doing on reefs around the world in popular tourism areas. On May 1st, 2018, the State of Hawaii (USA) enacted a landmark ban on these products, and now, a mere two weeks later, Bonaire has followed suit.
Bonaire will be Oxybenzone-free by January 1st, 2021.
In Tuesday evening’s Bonaire Island Council meeting (May 15th, 2018), a motion was unanimously ratified to prohibit all sunscreen products that contain Oxybenzone or Octinoxate by January 1st, 2021. It was also agreed to fast-track finding the best path to guarantee that the residents of Bonaire, along with its visiting tourists, can continue to enjoy the island’s underwater nature, while stimulating the economy and sustainability of Bonaire’s diving sector.
Always at the forefront of marine protection, Bonaire must now continue to be a world-leader in the protection of its coral. In recent months, scientists from Wageningen University (The Netherlands) have been researching the amounts of these chemicals in waters around Bonaire and, because of high concentrations of these chemicals found in popular seaside areas, this motion was presented to the Island Council. It is great news that it was approved.
It is hoped that other touristic island nations with sensitive coral reefs will continue with this effort. Coral reefs around the world are dealing with many stressors, and this is one that can be eliminated.
(Source: Extra)
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Susan Davis has been living on Bonaire for over 25 years. She is a PADI Master Instructor, a certified bird guide, and an underwater and topside photographer. She also enjoys writing for The Bonaire Insider tourism news blog.
This is great news! It’s a small adjustment that people can make to protect this beautiful reef. We’re returning in June and I’m asking everyone traveling with us to only use reef safe sunscreen. No need to wait until the ban to change our behavior! I believe that as more people are educated about the harm caused to coral by oxybenzone, they will make changes ahead of the ban.
Teri, that is a wonderful way of thinking! When your group checks their sunscreens, be sure they also check the active ingredients. If they are anything but zinc oxide or titanium oxide (or a combination of the two), ditch it for something else. Unfortunately, some manufacturers are saying their product is “reef safe” when in actuality, it isn’t.
We here on Bonare are hoping that with extra awareness, many of our visitors will make the change earlier, just like you. The more people who learn about the damage their sunscreens are causing, the more the reefs will benefit as people re-think their sun protection.
Thank you for caring for our island’s reefs, and I hope you have a wonderful visit in June!
This is Great news. I am curious how they will stop the cruise ship people from using this sunscreen. 3,000 plus people at one time in the water makes for a large oil slick. Hopefully once again the cruise ships will not be given a feee pass!!!
Hi Nadine, yes, this is wonderful news. I am sure that now that the green light has been given, there will be active steps taken to identify all the necessary components to ensure compliance by January 1st, 2021. I have no doubt that we will hear more as plans solidify.
Is there a plan to keep these harmful sunscreens from being used by cruise ship passengers who visit Bonaire?
Not yet, but I am sure that is coming. The motion was just approved, and now the next steps will be to delineate how the island can accomplish this by January 1st, 2021. It is understood that cruise passengers, who congregate in just a few areas of the shoreline, can affect the levels of Oxybenzone in the water, so I am sure this will be taken into consideration.