Corals are facing a range of threats, including rises in sea surface temperature and ocean acidification. Some now argue that keeping corals ex situ (in aquaria), may be not only important but necessary to prevent local extinction, for example in the Florida Reef Tract. Such collections or are already becoming common place, especially in the Caribbean, and may act as an ark, preserving and growing rare or endangered species in years to come. However, corals housed in aquaria face their own unique set of threats. For example, hobbyists (who have housed corals for decades) have noticed seasonal mortality is commonplace, incidentally following months of peak pollen production. So, could corals suffer from hay fever? If so, what does the future hold? In short, the answer to the first question is simple, and it is no, corals cannot suffer from hay fever, primarily because corals lack an adaptive immune system, which is necessary for the diagnosis of such an allergy. However, the threat from pollen could still be real. In this review, we explore how such seasonal mortality could play out. We explore increases in reactive oxygen species, the role of additional nutrients and how the microbiome of the pollen may introduce disease or cause dysbiosis in the holobiont.

Background : In recent years, the cosmetics industry (particularly the sunscreen sector), has made claims of “reef safe” products without validation, as no standardised verification methods or regulatory oversight currently exist. This has led to false and/or unsubstantiated marketing, which may have resulted in increased or unknown risks to the environment as well as greenwashing products to consumers. Indeed, 48% of products labelled as “reef safe” still contain known coral-toxic compounds. Objectives: Here, we present the Reef Protection Factor (RPF). A standardised three-tiered certification framework with bronze, silver, and gold ratings. RPF allows for the scientific evaluation and designation of a safety level that can be applied to any given cosmetic product indicating the impact it will most likely have on corals and other reef associated invertebrates. Discussion: The RPF evaluation protocol and ranking are transparent and rigorous. The method is practical to implement in the majority of facilities as the testing cost is low. We are hopeful that this will encourage widespread use of the RPF ranking system and ensure that the framework does not favour large multinational conglomerates over smaller, single-product or range-limited companies.