1. Mexico has banned Oxybenzone sunscreens from nature reserves and Palau (Pacific Ocean) has banned Oxybenzone from Jelly Fish Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 2. Hawaii has tried to ban the sale of sunscreens containing Oxybenzone through legislation in 2017. This ban would have an effect on imported products, but it would not prevent international tourists from bringing and… Read more →

Reducing the impact of potentially harmful sunscreens on our reef seems like a no-brainer… only use the right sunscreens and get rid of the bad ones. Unfortunately, the problem is a little more complicated. We have received a number of questions and suggestions with regard harmful sunscreens and we decided to make a FAQ-category called: Why can’t you just… Why… Read more →

Wageningen Marine Research and Boneiru Duradero are organizing a Sunscreen Awareness Conference on March 21, 2018. The conference offers stakeholders from the tourism sector on Bonaire the opportunity to learn more about the potential threats of harmful sunscreens to Bonaire’s reef. It also offers stakeholders the opportunity to share their personal views on this issue and help develop a sunscreen… Read more →

Dr. Diana Slijkerman of Wageningen Marine Research was on Bonaire last November to study the presence of potentially harmful sunscreens. She took water samples of Lac Bay and conducted a survey among visitors from cruise ships on the beach. The water samples will be analysed to find the concentration of organic UV filters and preservatives, and environmental risks will be… Read more →

Scientists have been researching the harmful effects of sunscreen on corals for more than a decade. The most leading scientist in this area of research, is Dr. Craig Downs Executive Director, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL), Viriginia USA, who has focused his scientific research on oxybenzone; a UV filter used in many sunscreens. Craig Downs’ research has led to a dedicated… Read more →