[ad_1]
WELLINGTON, New Zealand – In order to protect the coral reefs so much admired by the divers they dubbed the underwater Serengeti, the peaceful nation of Palau will soon ban many types of sunscreen.
READ MORE:
Hawaii bans some sunscreens to protect coral reefs – here's what to use
President Tommy Remengesau Jr. last week signed a bill banning "reef-toxic" sunscreens from 2020. Prohibited sunscreens will be confiscated from tourists who will take them to the country, and merchants selling them Prohibited products will be fined up to $ 1,000.
Remengesau said in a statement that the sanctions strike the right balance between "educating tourists and driving them away".
WATCH: the sequence shows coral bleaching by the Great Barrier Reef
The law defines toxic sunscreen for reefs as containing one of the 10 chemicals, including oxybenzone, and states that other chemicals may also be banned.
Legislation also requires tour operators to start providing customers with reusable cups, straws and food containers.
Remengesau said the 2017 report revealed that sun protection products were widespread in the famous Palau Jellyfish Lake, which has been closed for more than a year because of the decline in the number of jellyfish before its recent reopening. .
READ MORE:
Scientists say the coral reef of Samoan Island is dying
The President noted the legislative results that "plastic waste, chemical pollution, overconsumption of resources and climate change continue to threaten the health of our virgin paradise".
The ban on Palau comes after Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, in 2021, in July, to protect its reefs. In Hawaii, however, tourists will still be able to bring banned sunscreen with them or buy it there if they have a prescription from their doctor.
WATCH: The Governor of Hawaii signs a bill banning the establishment of sunscreens harmful to coral reefs
Scientists have discovered that certain chemicals found in sunscreens can be toxic to coral reefs, which are a vital part of the ocean ecosystem and are a popular attraction for tourists. But some critics say there are not enough independent scientific studies on the issue, while others worry that people will be too exposed to the sun if they stop using the products.
In the meantime, some manufacturers have already started selling "reef-adapted" sunscreen.
Palau, located in the eastern Philippines and northern Indonesia, has a population of 21,000 and an economy based on tourism and fishing. He has a free badociation pact with the United States.
[ad_2]
Source link
