Vicki’s Reflections from Roatan: Conservation, Collaboration, and the Banning Unsafe Sunscreens
As the Founder and Director of the Inland Ocean Coalition, my recent trip to Roatan offered a powerful reminder of the importance of ocean conservation and community collaboration. My main goal for traveling to the island was to continue work on our highly-collaborative project on the island to implement a ban of sunscreens with harmful petrochemical ingredients. The trip involved a mix of exploration, diving into the vibrant reef, and productive discussions on sustainability initiatives with local partners and stakeholders.
One of the key moments during my visit was attending the Tourism Sustainability meeting, which helped me understand the community’s concerns about the long-term viability of the reefs and their desire for a balance between conservation and tourism.
I also met with the Ecosafe Sunscreen Coalition to advance our efforts and lay the foundation for a public education campaign. It was encouraging to connect with local businesses, including Kimpton Grand Roatan Hotel, Roatan Marine Park, and Sundivers, all of whom are committed to protecting the reefs and implementing the petrochemical sunscreen ban. We are now focusing on the next steps and awaiting a decision from local authorities regarding the Ban.
Another important aspect of my trip was having an in-depth discussion with key stakeholders in ocean protection, including experts in Marine Protected Areas (MPA) enforcement, researchers, and non-profits. This gave me a better understanding of the collaborative efforts necessary to effectively protect the island’s marine ecosystems and how we can strengthen those efforts. Through these conversations, I gained insights into the crucial need for connection across communities, from inland areas to coastal regions, to ensure the health of our oceans.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue our collaboration with partners in Roatan as part of the Inland Ocean Coalition’s broader efforts to protect coral reefs, promote sustainable tourism, and bridge the gap between inland communities and ocean health. Through our work, we’re fostering international collective action across sectors and regions, recognizing that the health of our oceans depends on the engagement and commitment of all communities—coastal and inland alike. I’m proud to be part of the Inland Ocean Coalition’s efforts to drive meaningful change for a healthier ocean and a sustainable future.
And until the ban is passed — you may be asking what you can do to help protect coral reefs. Changing your sun protection habits is an easy way to make the ecosystem more hospitable to corals! We recommend wearing hats and sun protective gear, avoiding the sun during peak hours, and using mineral-based sunscreens when necessary. Stream2Sea sunscreen uses safer mineral ingredients, and has recently released a new CoralCare technology, made with minerals that support coral growth. Use the code “inland20” to kick back 20% of your purchase to IOC programs, including our partner project in Roatan.
Vicki Nichols Goldstein is the Executive Director of Inland Ocean Coalition, which she founded in 2011 as Colorado Ocean Coalition. Vicki also co-hosts the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast, and has over 25 years of experience in ocean policy, advocacy, community engagement, program development, and environmental negotiation.
