Times of the Islands Fall 2023

wear it in the ocean. These products cause a whole range
of problems for reefs and their substrates. They can be
toxic to coral larvae, cause DNA deformities, and contribute
to coral bleaching.
There are several reef-safe sunscreens on the market,
so reach for one after double-checking the ingredients
to make sure they don’t include any of the harmful toxins
listed above. (Some of these toxins are in makeup
as well, so it’s best to flaunt your natural beauty at the
beach.) Another way to further minimize sunscreen usage
is to cover exposed areas of your skin with UV-protective
clothing. You protect your body and the ocean at the
same time!
If you are an underwater adventurer, there is nothing
more heart-wrenching for a diver than to see trash littering
the reef and threatening the marine life. Just like on
land, you can carry a mesh bag and cutting device to help
remove any harmful items you find on a dive. It’s crucial
to check that there are no marine animals caught up in
the trash before removing it. Always be gentle with the
corals while removing debris, especially fishing line that
gets wrapped around and tangled on hard corals and in
soft corals.
Something that most people don’t think about being
harmful is taking shells from the sea. Most often this is
done because the person wants to have a piece of the
beauty that shells represent, but this disrupts the natural
cycle of the ecosystem. When you take an empty shell
from the sea, you have just removed a potential home
or hide-out for a creature that might otherwise be left
vulnerable to predators, including small fish and shrimp.
Creatures like hermit crabs constantly move to larger
shells as they grow. Although you may think one shell
won’t make a difference, consider if a million visitors take
just one shell each—that’s a million homes removed from
the ecosystem. A better way to preserve and remember
the beauty of any natural landscape is to leave with photos
and a heart full of happiness.
These small and relatively simple changes can make
a HUGE impact on the health of our planet. Just think:
If you make one change, and this encourages ten people
around you to make one change, and ten people for
each of those ten people make one change, the domino
sequence continues and the size of the positive impact
on the oceans and ecosystems would be immeasurable!
Our commitment and actions can and WILL make a difference
in keeping the Turks & Caicos Islands “Beautiful by
Nature.” a
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