Thailand bans coral-damaging sunscreens in marine parks

Thailand has banned sunscreens containing chemicals that damage coral from all of its marine national parks. Concerns are growing that lotions tourists use for sun protection are harming slow-growing corals. The Thai Department of Conservation said four ingredients commonly found in sun creams were shown to destroy coral larvae, obstruct coral reproduction and cause reef bleaching.The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said that the measure, which came into effect on Wednesday, was aimed at protecting the country's coasts from products that "deteriorate coral reefs, destroy larvae, obstruct their reproductive system and cause coral bleaching." Anyone flouting the ban can be fined up to 100,000 baht (£2,100). 

However, officials have not said how they plan to enforce the new rule. The banned lotions are those containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or butylparaben. Similar bans have been introduced by the Pacific island of Palau and the US state of Hawaii. This is the latest attempt by the Thai government to protect its coral from the tourism industry. Park officials won't confiscate sunscreen products containing these banned chemical compounds but they will take away the banned products from visitors and keep them for them until they leave, said Damras Phoprasit, director of the Office of National Parks. Divers are now encouraged to use zinc oxide-based sunscreen products which are found in studies to be safe for marine creatures, he said."As 80% to 90% of tourists visiting marine national parks on package tours usually go diving, marine national park staff will ask tour operators to explain to visitors the ban ahead of their visits," he said.