Reef

Coral reefs provide some of the most valuable ecosystem services for the islands. They are a driver of tourism, they protect against storms, and support local fisheries. To follow the health of the coral reefs a number of locations on each island are photographed each year, providing a systematic snapshot of ecosystem health and insight into temporal trends in reef condition. The data contribute to our understanding of processes shaping coral reefs, and to actionable advice to policy makers, stakeholders, and communities.The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network method (GCRMN) is used on St.Eustatius while Bonaire and Curacao have been using this method since 1973.


St.Eustatius

Over the last two decades coral cover (amount of coral on the seabed) on Statia’s shallow coastal reefs has decreased rapidly. In comparison with the coral cover in 2000 less than one-fifth is left.

Reef health index (1999-2018)

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After: Piontek (2015), de Graaf et al.(2015)Piontek (2016), Kitson-Walters (2017)

 

Annual distribution of Reef Health Index scores, derived from individual dive sites

Data provided by: the ministry of agriculture, nature and food quality & CNSI-NIOZ

Data analysis by: Wageningen University and Research after Piontek (2015)Piontek (2016), Kitson-Walters (2017)

 

Sea bottom cover

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Saba

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Data provided by: Sea Saba

Data analysis by: Wageningen University and Research


Saba Bank

 


Bonaire

Coral reefs are of great value to Bonaire. These attract dive and snorkel tourists, protect against storms and support local fisheries. Since the early 1970s the seabed cover by living coral has decreased. Even on the healthiest locations living coral cover went down from around 70% to below 30%.

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Data provided by: E.Meesters, Wageningen University and Research

Data analysis by: E.Meesters, after Bak, Meesters, Bakker (1973 - present)

 


Curaçao

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Data provided by: E.Meesters, Wageningen University and Research

Data analysis by: E.Meesters, after Bak, Meesters, Bakker (1973 - present)