How we are all contributing to the destruction of coral reefs: Sunscreen

[craigdon]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/20/after-sunscreen-protects-humans-it-massacres-coral-reefs/

[WilRams]

It is something I had not put thought into until I went on a snorkeling trip in Key West last month and they provided us with this.

http://www.tropicalseas.com/products/reef-safe-sunscreen-spf-30

Edited October 22, 2015 by WilRams

[gmerek2]

Anyone accidentally get sunscreen in the tank after an earlier application ?

[AlanM]

It is something I had not put thought into until I went on a snorkeling trip in Key West last month and they provided us with this.

http://www.tropicalseas.com/products/reef-safe-sunscreen-spf-30

Interesting that the article was all about how oxybenzone was a reef killer, but the "reef safe" product linked here uses oxybenzone.

[craigdon]

Anyone accidentally get sunscreen in the tank after an earlier application ?

I haven't, but I guess I'll have to take extra precautions now.

[dave w]

Interesting that the article was all about how oxybenzone was a reef killer, but the "reef safe" product linked here uses oxybenzone.

AlanM and WilRams,

 

It would be nice to nail down if oxybenzone is the harmful agent or not.  A biodegradeable sunscreen is a great idea, getting scammed by another company that offers fake products to help the reef is not a great idea.

[AlanM]

It would probably be easy to call BS on their "one drop in 12 swimming pools kills corals" by dripping a full strength drop into a frag tank and seeing what happens.  My guess is not much.  I'm not particularly careful of making sure my hands are pristine when I put my hands in tank water.  I've never triggered any kind of a die-off or whatever.

[One fish]

I think the link posted above has used "Reef Safe" as their company name, legally making it seem like they are claiming that it really is reef safe.

 

Interesting that the article was all about how oxybenzone was a reef killer, but the "reef safe" product linked here uses oxybenzone.

 

 

AlanM very true. Here is a review from someone who bought it on Amazon. 

 

"Read the article from PADI, the reputable Professional Association of Diving Instructors:

[...]

They list some ingredients that are harmful for coral reefs:

1) oxybenzone
2) butylparaben
3) octinoxate
4) 4-methylbenzylidine camphor

This product contains both oxybenzone and octinoxate. The makers of this deceptive product should be ashamed of themselves for branding a product as reef safe when it's the exact opposite."

[gmerek2]

I saw a bunch of SPS Staghorn growing in paridise island lagoon with tourists snorkeling in it. I think it has a beach also. Maybe it's filled with sunscreen resistant corals.

[TonyInVa]

Many outfits require it in order to take you snorkeling to reefs. Unfortunately there is no way to police it. Many will say they have reef safe sunblock on in order to get on the boat, but once on the boat you hear people say"what is reef safe sunblock" when they just said they had it on. 

[Coral Hind]

I find it hard to believe that there would be concentrations high enough that would cause an effect when it is diluted with so much seawater constantly flowing over the reef.

[Oxy]

Here is the story on the NOAA website: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/feb14/sunscreen.html

And a link to the published article, for those of you interested in reading more about it: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10646-013-1161-y

 

I have sunscreen in my daily face and body lotion, so I always wash my hands before they go into my tank full of sps.