DCNA

Beginning of February 2020, the Ocean Science Team of Reef Life Foundation was on Sint Maarten to assess and research the 14 month performance of the ‘IntelliReefs’ artificial reef substrates which were developed to enhance coral and fish growth; deployed as a premier in St Maarten waters in the end of 2018. The team which collaborates with the Nature Foundation St Maarten was funded by the Waitt Institute, conducted several research and monitoring dives on the ‘coral enhancing’ structures in the Marine Protected Area and on sites around the island. The researchers discovered coral settlement varieties, important coral contributors and highly diverse marine species on the Oceanite substrates. In the coming weeks, samples and monitoring films will be analysed in detail to determine species composition and abundance on these substrates.

Article originally published in BioNews 32

To learn more about IntelliReefs: Substrates for Super Corals, check out: www.reeflifefoundation.org/intellireefs. 

In 2019 a collaborative study of the Simpson Bay Lagoon on St. Maarten introduced the “Triple Bottom Line” management strategy, which emphasized the planet, people and profit. This study found the current environmental conditions to be unacceptable, and through public polling, found strong public sentiment for a management strategy to return St. Maarten’s largest wetland to its former glory.

Article originally published in BioNews 32

More Information: Duijndam, S., Fralikhina, H., Molenaar, A., Beukering, P. van. 2019. Better environmental management of the Simpson Bay Lagoon pays off. IVM Institute for Environmental Studies. Policy Brief.

A 2019 policy brief was just released outlining the requirements for sustainably managing fisheries within the Caribbean Netherlands. Using five different studies, a four-phase roadmap was created to bring local stakeholders and government legislators together to secure the future of local fish stocks. Without action, a collapse of important fish species could be right around the corner.

Article originally published in BioNews 32

More Information:

Mac Donald, S. (KITLV/MAC & FIELD) in assignment of WWF-NL (2019). Roadmap towards effective fisheries management of the Caribbean Netherlands:

WWF Roadmap Towards Effective Fisheries Management on the Caribbean Netherlands

WWF Policy Brief: Creating Effective, Sustainable Fisheries Managment in the Caribbean Netherlands

Petzold.S. 2019. An Analsysis for the Potential Implementation of Co-managemnt in the fisheries of the Caribbean Netherlands. Research Project. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/ WWF-NETHERLANDS

BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. BioNews provides regular updates on science and nature projects as well as overviews of on-going research and monitoring efforts, long term projects, recent reports and publications.

In BioNews 32 you will find articles on:

• New Plan for Creating Sustainable Fisheries in the Caribbean Netherlands
• Study Highlights Importance of Restoring Simpson Bay Lagoon, St Maarten
• Innovative Artificial Reef Structures “IntelliReefs” to Improve Denuded Coral Reefs
• Unlocking the Evolutionary Secrets of Local Amphibians and Lizards

You will also find up to date overviews of:

• Recent reports and publications
• Current research, monitoring and long term programs
• Upcoming events

Download the full color version of BioNews 32

You can sign-up here or send an email to research@DCNAnature.organd we will be happy to add you to our mailinglist.

Note:

To read BioNews you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer and to enjoy it to the fullest we recommend you to open it in full screen mode.

For previous issues check the BioNews archive.

*This newsletter was published by DCNA and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).

Researchers from University of Groningen recently used genetic testing to identify the geographical birthplaces of green sea turtles foraging within Lac Bay, Bonaire. This study compared population composition between 2006-2007 and 2015-2016. There was an overall increase in juvenile green turtles from the north-western Caribbean and a general decrease in population recruitments from both eastern Caribbean and southern Atlantic.

Article originally published in BioNews 31

More Information: Jurjan P. van der Zee, Marjolijn J.A. Christianen, Mabel Nava, Ximena Velez-Zuazo, Wensi Hao, Martine Bérubé, Hanneke van Lavieren, Michael Hiwat, Rachel Berzins, Johan Chevalier, Damien Chevallier, Marie-Clélia Lankester, Karen A. Bjorndal, Alan B. Bolten, Leontine E. Becking, Per J. Palsbøll. 2019. Population recovery changes population composition at a major southern Caribbean juvenile developmental habitat for the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Scientific Reports | (2019) 9:14392 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50753-5

BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. BioNews provides regular updates on science and nature projects as well as overviews of on-going research and monitoring efforts, long term projects, recent reports and publications.

In BioNews 31 you will find articles on:

• Researchers explored deepest and largest underwater sinkholes in the world
• Scientists study Saba tropicbirds
• Three New Species of Birds Identified on Bonaire
• Evaluation of vegetation development on the Dutch Caribbean islands
• Genetic Testing to Measure Sea Turtle Conservation Success

You will also find up to date overviews of:

• Recent reports and publications
• Current research, monitoring and long term programs
• Upcoming events

Download the full color version of BioNews 31

You can sign-up here or send an email to research@DCNAnature.organd we will be happy to add you to our mailinglist.

Note:

To read BioNews you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer and to enjoy it to the fullest we recommend you to open it in full screen mode.

For previous issues check the BioNews archive.

*This newsletter was published by DCNA and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).

There has been a recent increase in public awareness of environmental issues as the effects of climate change have become ever more noticeable in our daily lives. As we enter a new decade, it becomes useful to review what conservation efforts have worked so far, and take inventory of what efforts will be required for the future. Starting with the constitutional referendum creating the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES), the response to conservation challenges of all six Dutch Caribbean islands have varied. Since 2010, the BES islands have seen an overall increase in funding support and conservation actions, and therefore presumably also saw greater improvements when compared to Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, though clearly not enough (Sanders et al, 2019).

The goal of this Transboundary Species special edition of BioNews is to provide an update on the latest published research results and highlight the need for transboundary protection. These species know no boundaries, and thus move between the Dutch Caribbean islands and beyond. Their protection will require broadscale conservation efforts which cover the entire Caribbean, including the six Dutch Caribbean islands. Collaboration between all six islands is of the utmost importance. This is one of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance’s (DCNA) main goals: working together and sharing skills, knowledge and resources to maintain a solid network and support nature conservation in the entire Dutch Caribbean.

Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the Caribbean Netherlands islands Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). All 33 experts that worked on this report concluded that the “Conservation status1 of the biodiversity in the Caribbean Netherlands is assessed as moderately unfavorable to very unfavorable”. This applies to both the habitats and the dependent species. The biggest threats are free roaming feral livestock, invasive exotic species (species that do not occur naturally on the islands), climate change and overfishing. In addition, coastal development, erosion and eutrophication by waste water should not be forgotten. Because the threats are not sufficiently addressed, the experts view the future perspective as moderately unfavorable to very unfavorable.

In this special BioNews edition we summarized the findings by Wageningen Research (Debrot et al., 2018).

In the wake of the constitutional change in 2010, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality, as part of its Nature Policy Plan for the Caribbean Netherlands, reserved an amount of $9.8 million for a period of four years to fund overdue maintenance of nature. In particular for projects aimed at preservation of coral especially by erosion prevention, improving the sustainable use of nature, and/or improving the synergy between nature, land use (agriculture) and tourism. These funds have come to be known as the “Nature Funds” or “Natuurgelden”.

This funding was provided directly to the island governments of the Caribbean Netherlands. Each island’s government consulted with local nature organizations to propose projects to match their needs with the local political priorities.

The Nature Fund got off to a slow start as both the formulation of proposals and process of review, selection and contracting took a lot of time, and many of the original funding proposals did not meet the criteria and had to be modified or amended and resubmitted. Nevertheless, between October 2013 and October 2017 a total of 23 projects were approved, 10 on Bonaire, 7 on Saba and 6 on St. Eustatius. Each of these projects were completed by October 1st, 2019.

This Special Edition “BioNews” is proud to present the recently premiered videos which highlight the results of some of these projects. These videos are the crowning glory of a successful cooperation between the Dutch and local governments and local nature conservation organizations. Let yourself be inspired by their passion for our beautiful nature in the Dutch Caribbean. DCNA Team

A recently published study looked to compare Curaçao’s historical records of fish catches between the years 1905 and 2016. This study highlights shifts in both catch size and species
composition. Understanding changes in fish populations will help researchers better understand the overall health of the ecosystem and help guide conservation efforts for the future.
 

Article originally published in BioNews 30

For more information: Vermeij MJA, Latijnhouwers KRW, Dilrosun F, Chamberland VF, Dube CE, Van Buurt G, et al. (2019) Historical changes (1905-present) in catch size and composition reflect altering fisheries practices on a small Caribbean island. PLoS ONE 14(6): e0217589. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0217589