Bouys

Lac Buoy Placement Project - Progress report #1

PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Goals:

  1. Protect the seagrass beds at the shoreline of the Blue Zone
  2. Increase windsurfer compliance to the White Zone no-go boundary
  3. Reduce recreational user damage to the coral reef

Activities:

  1. Floating lines and small floats were installed to protect the seagrass beds in the heavily-used areas at the Sorobon peninsula. 
  2. Turnaround buoys were intended to be placed at the White Zone boundary. As the name implies, windsurfers must turn around at these markers. Commercial use is prohibited in the White Zone.
  3. Six buoys were placed in the Yellow Zone beside the coral reef. Users are instructed to use caution in this area and reminded that the reef is a “no touch” zone. The buoys are also designated moorings for kayaks.
  4. An information and awareness program informed users about the issue, the project and the related regulations. 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT POLICY

Immediate action:

  • Install turnaround buoys to mark the border of the White and Blue zones.
  • Contribute funding for ongoing expenses of this project (see 2010 Budget page 5).
  • Take measures to reduce the impact of users:
  1. Correct the footprints of the existing businesses which have encroached beyond their permitted limits.
  2. Place capacity limits on number of beach chairs, restaurant seating, and number of sailboards rented per day.
  3. Restrict foot traffic to designated paths to reduce damage to dune vegetation. o Make funds and personnel available to enforce user regulations, most critically during the cruise ship season.
  4. Do not grant additional business permits for this area until maximum capacity limits have been determined.
  • Take measures to reduce vehicle impact to Sorobon peninsula:
  1. Create a designated parking lot and restrict all public/taxi/tour parking to that lot. Designate narrow driving lanes to reduce the number of cars, compaction of the soil and damage to vegetation.

Other action:

  • Enact policy, regulation and enforcement, and devote adequate funds to manage Lac for the long term.
  • Fund and implement the Lac Bay Management Plan (Renken 2003). At the same time, undertake a careful revision of the plan to encompass current conditions and scientific knowledge.
  • As part of the above:
  1. Adopt all recommended Ramsar guidelines.
  2. Establish and enforce caps on day use-entry to the area.
  3. Establish and levy a reasonable use fee for businesses (excluding traditional fishing) that use Lac. Dedicate proceeds exclusively for the protection and management of the area. 
Date
2010
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire