HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0771.533 2020-2022 / rj I a .
,6jH C(;l
C 0 U,N1 Y C L 1: R K commlr�
Testimony for Bill 167—Related to Prohibition of Non Wirrg'l QJUs 2 0
counciltestimony(a,)hawaiicounty.gov
From: Dr. Ku'ulei Rodgers
University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Coral Reef Ecology Laboratory
I am writing with the intention of providing evidence on the effects of sunscreens on coral reefs.
I am a research faculty at the University of Hawai'i's Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, I have
worked as a coral reef researcher for the past 31 years. I am the principal investigator of the
Coral Reef Ecology Lab (www.coralreefecologylab.com) and the Coral Reef Assessment and
Monitoring Program (cramp.wcc.hawaii.edu).
I am asking you to please examine all data reviews on sunscreen prior to making a decision on
Bill 167—Related to Prohibition of Non-Mineral Sunscreens. All research on sunscreen impacts
to coral reefs have been reviewed by the International Coral Reef Initiative and world renown
authorities on coral reefs. They find that"experiments conducted thus far have used
concentrations of sunscreen and sunscreen components much higher than generally found in the
marine environment", and "there are concerns that they may not properly reflect conditions on
the reef where pollutants can rapidly be dispersed and diluted" (ICRI 2016).
Many researchers agree, more recently, a field study conducted by Dr. Carys Michelmore and
other well-respected coral reef researchers, state there is currently not enough evidence to make
the statement that sunscreen negatively impacts coral reefs. "Until recently, there was only one
published concentration for oxybenzone in seawater near Hawai'i's reefs and nothing for
octinoxate, yet this information is critical. This severe lack of data on UV filter concentrations
near Hawai'i's coral reefs was the driver for the recent monitoring study just published in the
Science of the Total Environment. This study showed that oxybenzone was present in all
seawater samples at low parts per trillion concentrations, which was similar to the levels most
other studies have found in other coral reefs from around the world. Currently, the limited
scientific evidence for Hawaii and Florida does not show that sunscreen chemical components
exist at concentrations that harm corals. If sunscreen were a cause of coral die-offs,we would
expect to see reef damage where sunscreen concentrations are highest, but there is no data to
support that" (Michelmore et al. 2021 a,b).
If there is an impact it would likely be most obvious at Hanauma Bay due to its high level of
visitors and enclosed geography. In the research we have conducted over the past twenty years at
Hanaurna Bay we have examined effects of trampling, water clarity, temperature, sedimentation,
coral bleaching,monitored coral cover and fishes, measured circulation rates, and related all
these factors to human use. Our findings show increased temperatures and visitor use are the
main impacts at Hanaurna Bay. Other impacts are minimal. We have found strong evidence of
physical visitor impact to the shallow inshore reef(Severin and Rodgers 2019-2021). The outer
reefs are inversely in excellent condition.
However, the effects of coral bleaching far overshadow the more localized impacts. The Coral
Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP)has been detecting an overall decline in
coral cover at Hanaurna Bay sites since 1999 at all depths even where visitation is low. We
observed a decline in coral cover throughout the State following the massive bleaching event in
Comm. No.
Ref. To: OwAmal
Ref. Date__1W11LJ__FLJ'L1Yd2
2014 and 2015. Our temperature loggers show mortality was highest in the sectors where water
was warmest. We found mortality in Hanauma Bay, where there is extensive use of sunscreens,
was only 9.8%. The statewide average during this time was 35%. Hanauma Bay had much lower
mortality than other areas throughout the state that are not exposed to high levels of sunscreens.
West Hawaii for example experienced up to 50% mortality in some areas (Rodgers et al. 2017,
Framer et al. 2016, Neilson 2014). Throughout the world, with the best example being the Great
Barrier Reef(GBR) in Australia, corals have been reduced by nearly half following several
widescale bleaching events. All areas are impacted. The northern GBR and Papahanauokuakea
in the northwest Hawaiian Islands are void of localized impacts from pollutants such as
sunscreen however, the coral mortality rate was as high than populated regions (Couch et al.
2016).
It is well established that the declines to reefs throughout the world are mainly due to the effects
of climate change(Hoegh-Guldberg O. 1999). The magnitude of the impact to coral reefs from
climate change is substantial and well documented (Hughes 2017). Local issues can exacerbate
coral decline. These include sedimentation, overuse, and nutrification. Areas affected by these
can be extensive on a limited spatial scale, however, they do not compare in magnitude to the
area impacted by the climate change effects of bleaching, ocean acidification, sea level rise and
increasing storms (Hoeke et al. 2011, Mora et al. 2014, Jokiel and Coles 1990). Global fishing
pressure is another impact that is globally widespread.
We must not lose track of the larger goal of carbon reduction and the search for solutions to
protecting corals from temperature increase, the number one global cause of coral loss. The
energy and funding spent in concentrating on lesser impacts does coral reefs a great disservice.
While it is inviting to think that a critical problem like coral reef decline can be impacted by
something as simple as selecting a different sunscreen, the reality is not so easy. We are all on
the same side, the side to protect our reefs and find solutions to ameliorate the impacts. Focusing
on an issue such as sunscreens, that have not been shown in the overall literature to damage reefs
and have not been substantiated in the ocean, detracts from the real issues and shifts the efforts
away from effective conservation and restoration efforts. Please consider this when deciding on
the sunscreen ban Bill 167.
Mahalo,
f
r8;at w nn
i�,ik jtgir awaj(dq
808-428-9824