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The small island island of the Pacific, Palau, will ban sunscreens "toxic to the reefs" from 2020, in what it claims to be a first global initiative to prevent chemical pollution from killing its famous corals.
Palau, which lies in the Western Pacific roughly halfway between Australia and Japan, is considered one of the best diving destinations in the world, but the government fears that its popularity does not cost his money.
A spokesman for President Tommy Remengesau said that it was scientifically proven that chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals, even in minute doses.
He said that Palau's dive sites typically accommodate about four boats per hour, filled with tourists, which suggests a build-up of chemicals that could see the reefs reach tipping point.
"Every day this equates to gallons of sunscreen entering the ocean at Palau's famous dive and snorkeling sites," he told AFP.
"We are simply looking at what we can do to prevent pollution from entering the environment."
The government has passed a law banning "reef-toxic" sunscreens from 1 January 2020.
Anyone who imports or sells sunscreen banned from that date will be fined $ 1,000, while tourists who bring it into the country will be confiscated.
"The power to confiscate sunscreens should be enough to deter their noncommercial use, and these provisions strike a judicious balance between educating tourists and driving them away," Remengesau told parliament after adopting the draft. law last week.
Read also: Attempt to protect marine life, Hawaii bans popular brands of sunscreen
– Pioneer of the environment –
The US state of Hawaii has announced a ban on toxic reef sunscreens in May this year, but entry into force is not effective until 2021, one year after Palau.
The ban imposed by Palau concerns sunscreens containing chemicals, including oxybenzone, octocrylene and parabens, which cover most major brands.
Palau has long been a pioneer in the protection of the marine environment, introducing the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009, in a move that has been widely imitated.
He also banned commercial fishing in his waters and last year he introduced the "Palau Undertaking", which requires international visitors to sign a pledge on their passport stating that they will respect the rules. ;environment.
Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Hawaii, said that other countries would closely follow the evolution of Palau.
"It's the first country to ban tourism to these chemicals, I think it's great, they're proactive," he said.
"They do not want to look like Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, where they had to close beaches, and the coral reefs around these beaches are dead."
Downs said that there were numerous scientific articles indicating a link between sunscreen chemicals and coral reef degradation.
"What we are saying is that solar pollution can have a detrimental effect on coral reefs located less than five kilometers from where many tourists go in the water," he said. .
Downs called on sunscreen manufacturers to "step up their efforts and innovate," claiming that the chemicals used for UV protection have remained virtually unchanged for 50 years.
He added that some sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide were not toxic to the reefs, but he added, "The other alternative we advocate is the port of the sun – cover yourself, wear a vest.
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