The Pacific vacation paradise of Palau is the first country in the world to ban certain sunscreens to protect its famous coral reefs. „We have to respect the environment, because the environment is the origin of life and nobody can survive in Palau without it,“ said President Tommy Remengesau today.
He referred to scientific findings that chemicals from sunscreen, even in small quantities, would cause sensitive corals to die. The import or sale of prohibited sunscreens was therefore fined the equivalent of 890 euros.
The island nation also proclaimed one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. This means that fishing and raw material extraction are now prohibited in 80 percent of the island’s exclusive economic zone. Palau is located between Australia and Japan and is a popular holiday destination. The underwater world in particular attracts many holidaymakers.
