A coalition of local and global partners have come together to spearhead the initiative for a sunscreen ban in Roatán, focusing on impactful on-the-ground actions. This dedicated group is collaborating closely with local dive shops, hotels, and other tourism industry stakeholders to promote the use of eco-friendly sunscreen products that are safe for the reef. By engaging with these businesses, which are at the forefront of tourist interaction, the coalition is actively educating and encouraging a shift towards practices that protect the marine environment.

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Additionally, the coalition is conducting water testing to assess the levels of harmful chemicals present, using this data to inform and advance their advocacy efforts. This hands-on approach underlines the coalition's commitment to preserving Roatán’s marine biodiversity and supporting the local community, whose livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the health of the reef.

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Roatán, Honduras is not just any island. It's a world-class dive travel and vacation destination located along the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second-largest barrier reef. For decades, this gem of the Western Caribbean remained a best-kept secret but today it's making headlines as a trending travel destination.

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Roatan is currently under threat from petrochemical sunscreens. These products contain harmful chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate that have been proven to cause coral bleaching and harm marine life. This isn't just about preserving beauty; it's about protecting an ecosystem that supports local livelihoods through tourism and fishing.

We are calling on the Municipality of Roatán to initiate a ban in Roatán on all six petrochemicals found in popular sunscreen brands that are known to cause harm to marine life.

 

These petrochemicals include:

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• Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3): disrupts coral reproduction, causes coral bleaching, and damages coral DNA.

• Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate): causes coral bleaching and toxic to seagrass.

• Octocrylene: causes metabolic distress in corals and deformity of developing fish larvae.

• Octisalate: is a breakdown product of Octocrylene - known carcinogen, endocrine disruptor and a patented herbicide which can induce coral bleaching and kill seagrass.

• Homosalate: is a teratogen (an agent or factor which causes malformation of an embryo) from sea urchin
  and fish to humans.

• Avobenzone: is toxic to algae, can cause coral to bleach, and can cause blindness in developing fish larvae.

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Similar bans have already been implemented in places like Hawaii and Palau due to their damaging effects on coral reefs.
 

 

By signing this petition, you are standing up for our environment and helping us protect Roatan's precious marine life for future generations. Please sign now to urge the Honduran government to ban petrochemical sunscreens in Roatan!