MAY 11 HAWAII TO BAN SUNSCREEN TO PROTECT CORAL REEFS

MAY 11  HAWAII TO BAN SUNSCREEN TO PROTECT CORAL REEFS

For many travelers, a trip to the tropics isn't complete until you snorkel in a coral reef. For example: You can't possibly go to Honolulu without diving into spectacular Hanauma Bay. Likewise, Cancun's top attraction is swimming next to the world's second largest coral reef. Sadly, if want to snorkel around these fantastic living creatures, you'd better hurry. Many reefs are struggling to live in polluted oceans. In fact, last year scientists declared The Great Barrier Reef officially dead.

How does the biggest living creature on earth suddenly die? You can see The Great Barrier Reef from space! Well, although coral is sharp (and cuts through your foot like a knife through butter) in actuality, it is a sensitive creature. A slight change in ocean temperature or acidity is toxic for coral health. "We didn't expect to see this level of destruction of the Great Barrier Reef for another 30 years," exclaimed Terry Hughes, a director at Cook University in Queensland.

Hoping to prevent the same fate for their prized reef, officials in Hawaii took drastic measures. Although officials cannot control ocean temperature, they can try to tame ocean acidity. On Monday, the state legislature passed a bill which will soon be signed by Governor David Ise. It bans all sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate. The former, also called BP-3, washes off snorkeler's bodies when they are swimming around the reefs. Next, they attack precious reefs. It damages the coral DNA and causes deformities in baby coral. The National Ocean Service declared it "highly toxic to juvenile corals."

Uh-oh! We can hear our ocean-loving but pale-skinned readers starting to panic. "How can I possibly swim in the tropics without sunscreen!?" Fortunately, not all sunscreens contain BP-3. There are plenty of other brands that are coral-safe. They employ other chemicals to protect your skin. The problem is that zinc and titanium oxides leave a white layer on your skin. You know, like a lifeguard's nose! While these brands aren't popular anymore, a Life Science biologist reminds us: "It's worth looking a little goofy to save the reefs."

We here at the DUNER BLOG salute Hawaii for the preemptive legislation. Fortunately, Coppertone Sunscreen lobbyists do not exist so the bill was passed without interference. Unfortunately, the law won't take effect until January First, 2021...so there still are politics involved. Also unclear is how to enforce such an ordinance. Bikini inspections? Despite these issues, the Aloha State is sending a loud message to the rest of the tropical world: Action is needed to save one of earth's most majestic natural treasures.