Conservation

Climate warming and sea turtle sex ratios across the globe

Abstract

Climate warming and the feminization of populations due to temperature-dependent sex determination may threaten sea turtles with extinction. To identify sites of height-ened  risk,  we  examined  sex  ratio  data  and  patterns  of  climate  change  over  multi-ple   decades for   64   nesting sites    spread across     the   globe.    Over    the   last   62 years the mean    change in  air  temperature was   0.85°C per   century (SD = 0.65°C, range = −0.53 to +2.5°C, n= 64    nesting sites).    Temperatures increased at  40   of  the   64   study    sites. Female-skewed hatchling or  juvenile sex   ratios    occurred at  57   of  the   64   sites,    with skews >90% female at 17 sites. We did not uncover a relationship between the ex-tent of warming and sex ratio (r62= −0.03, p= .802, n= 64    nesting sites).    Hence, our results  suggest  that  female-hatchling  sex  ratio  skews  are  not  simply  a  consequence  of recent warming but have likely persisted at some sites for many decades. So other factors  aside  from  recent  warming  must  drive  these  variations  in  sex  ratios  across  nesting sites, such as variations in nesting behaviour (e.g. nest depth), substrate (e.g. sand albedo), shading available and rainfall patterns. While overall across sites recent warming is not linked to hatchling sex ratio, at some sites there is both is a high female skew    and   high    warming, such    as  Raine    Island    (Australia; 99%    female green    turtles; 1.27°C warming per century), nesting beaches in Cyprus (97.1% female green turtles; 1.68°C    warming per   century) and   in  the  Dutch    Caribbean (St  Eustatius; 91.5%    femaleleatherback turtles; 1.15°C warming per century). These may be among the first sites where management intervention is needed to increase male production. Continued monitoring  of  sand  temperatures  and  sex  ratios  are  recommended  to  help  identify  when high incubation temperatures threaten population viability.

Date
2023
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Eustatius

Preserving Paradise: Nature and Environmental Policy Plan 2020-2030

Dutch and Papiamentu below

 The Caribbean Netherlands’ Nature and Environmental Policy Plan 2020-2030 is an integrated plan to safeguard and enhance the natural environment over the next decade. Through this overarching framework and the island specific implementation agendas, a series of programs and projectshave been developed and initiated on the BES islands to help meet the ambitious goals, enhancing overall nature conservation and improving local resilience against climate change.  

NEPP 

The Nature and Environmental Policy plan 2020-2030 (NEPP) presents a strategy, setting ambitious strategic goals and targets that are worked out through milestones and in the island specific implementation agendas. The targets, milestones and measures aim to address pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainable development for the islands of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius (BES). The aim of this policy is to establish a framework for implementing progressive policies that protect the Caribbean Netherlands’s unique landscapes and biodiversity while combatting climate change. 

French angel fish. Photo credit: MMBockstael-Rubio- all rights reserved

The NEPP has been developed by the Dutch Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W) and Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) in close cooperation with the Public Entities of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius and local organizations. The plan is a continuation of earlier environmental policies and reflects the Netherlands’ commitment to fulfilling international agreements such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the objectives under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Cartagena Convention and its underlying protocols. 

Strategic Goals 

Within this framework, four strategic goals have been laid out. The first is to reverse coral reef degradation through better erosion control, effective waste and wastewater management and through coral reef restoration.  The second strategic goal is to restore and conserve unique habitats and species, which is done through conserving and preserving native habitats and species and combating invasive species.  Strategic goal three concerns the sustainable use of land and water for the development of the local economy, which will focus on sustainable fisheries, balancing tourism with nature conservation and investing in sustainable local food production.  Lastly, the fourth strategic goal aims to create local conditions to ensure sustainable results of nature policy through improved awareness, education and training, employment investments and developing a structural research agenda. 

Programs and projects 

On Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba steering groups have been established to coordinate, monitor, and steer the implementation of the NEPP and the island implementation agenda. Each steering group is chaired by the governor of that island, the members of the steering group are LNV, IenW, BZK and the respective Public Entity. On each island there is a program manager for the implementation of the NEPP and implementation agenda. The program manager is also the secretary of the steering group.  

Taking into consideration the limited capacity on each island, a program structure has been established to effectively initiate, execute, and monitor projects. In close cooperation with and between the steering groups, governments, park authorities, NGOs and private organizations, a set of projects and project proposals have been submitted, are in progress or have been finalized to facilitate meeting these four strategic goals. These projects cover a wide variety of topics including wastewater management, invasive species control, water quality monitoring, habitat restoration and investments in innovative agricultural practices such as hydroponics, just to name a few.  A complete overview of related projects is now available on the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance website (https://dcnanature.org/nepp-overview/) and kept up to date and published monthly in their free digital newsletter “BioNews”(https://dcnanature.org/news/). 

Value 

The Caribbean Netherlands’ Nature and Environmental Policy Plan 2020-2030 represents a significant step forward in the Netherlands’ commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. By setting ambitious goals and embracing innovative strategies, the plan paves the way for a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future.  

DCNA 

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) supports (science) communication and outreach in the Dutch Caribbean region by making nature related (scientific) information more widely available through amongst others the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s news platform BioNews and through the press. This article contains information from several projects but the projects themselves are not DCNA studies. No rights can be derived from the content. DCNA is not liable for the content and the in(direct) impacts resulting from publishing this article. 

 

 

 

Het Natuur- en Milieubeleidsplan 2020-2030 van Caribisch Nederland is een integraal plan om de natuur de komende tien jaar te beschermen en te versterken. Door dit overkoepelende kader en de eilandspecifieke uitvoeringsagenda’s is op de BES-eilanden een reeks programma’s en projecten ontwikkeld en gestart om de ambitieuze doelstellingen te helpen behalen, het algehele natuurbehoud te verbeteren en de lokale weerbaarheid tegen klimaatverandering te verbeteren. 

NMBP 

Het Natuur- en Milieubeleidsplan 2020-2030 (NMBP) presenteert een strategie met ambitieuze strategische doelen en streefdoelen uitgewerkt in mijlpalen en in de eilandspecifieke uitvoeringsagenda’s. De doelen, mijlpalen en maatregelen zijn gericht op het aanpakken van urgente milieu-uitdagingen en het bevorderen van duurzame ontwikkeling voor de eilanden Bonaire, Saba en Sint Eustatius (BES). Het doel van dit beleid is om een kader te creëren voor de uitvoering van vooruitstrevend beleid dat de unieke landschappen en biodiversiteit van Caribisch Nederland beschermt en tegelijkertijd klimaatverandering tegengaat. 

Franse keizervis. Foto credit: MMBockstael-Rubio- alle rechten voorbehouden

Het NMBP is ontwikkeld door de ministeries van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV), Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (IenW) en Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties (BZK) in nauwe samenwerking met de openbare lichamen Bonaire, Saba en Sint Eustatius en lokale organisaties. Het plan is een voortzetting van eerder milieubeleid en weerspiegelt de Nederlandse inzet voor het nakomen van internationale afspraken zoals the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) van de Verenigde Naties, de doelstellingen van the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) en the Cartagena Convention en de daaraan ten grondslag liggende protocollen. 

Strategische doelen 

Binnen dit kader zijn vier strategische doelen opgesteld. De eerste is om de aantasting van koraalriffen om te keren door betere erosiecontrole, effectief afval- en afvalwaterbeheer en door herstel van koraalriffen. Het tweede strategische doel is het herstel en behoud van unieke leefgebieden en soorten, wat wordt gedaan door inheemse leefgebieden en soorten te behouden en invasieve soorten te bestrijden. Strategisch doel drie betreft het duurzaam gebruik van land en water voor de ontwikkeling van de lokale economie, waarbij de nadruk zal liggen op duurzame visserij, het balanceren van toerisme met natuurbehoud en investeren in duurzame lokale voedselproductie. Het vierde strategische doel, ten slotte, beoogt lokale voorwaarden te scheppen voor duurzame resultaten van het natuurbeleid door middel van betere voorlichting, onderwijs en opleiding, werkgelegenheidsinvesteringen en het ontwikkelen van een structurele onderzoeksagenda. 

Programma’s en projecten 

Op Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba zijn stuurgroepen ingesteld om de uitvoering van het NMBP en de eilandelijke uitvoeringsagenda te coördineren, te monitoren en te sturen. Elke stuurgroep wordt voorgezeten door de gezaghebber van dat eiland. De leden van de stuurgroep zijn LNV, IenW, BZK en het betreffende openbaar lichaam. Op elk eiland is er een programmamanager voor de uitvoering van het NMBP en de uitvoeringsagenda. De programmamanager is tevens secretaris van de stuurgroep. 

Rekening houdend met de beperkte capaciteit op elk eiland, is er een programmastructuur opgezet om projecten effectief te initiëren, uit te voeren en te monitoren. In nauwe samenwerking met en tussen de stuurgroepen, overheden, parkautoriteiten, ngo’s en particuliere organisaties is een reeks projecten en projectvoorstellen ingediend, in uitvoering of afgerond om het behalen van deze vier strategische doelen te vergemakkelijken. Deze projecten hebben betrekking op een breed scala aan onderwerpen, waaronder afvalwaterbeheer, beheersing van invasieve soorten, monitoring van de waterkwaliteit, herstel van leefgebieden en investeringen in innovatieve landbouwpraktijken zoals hydrocultuur, om er maar een paar te noemen. Een compleet overzicht van gerelateerde projecten is nu beschikbaar op de website van de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (https://dcnanature.org/nepp-overview/) en wordt maandelijks bijgewerkt en gepubliceerd in hun gratis digitale nieuwsbrief “BioNews”(https://dcnanature.org/news/). 

Waarde 

Het Natuur- en Milieubeleidsplan 2020-2030 van Caribisch Nederland is een belangrijke stap voorwaarts in de Nederlandse inzet voor duurzame ontwikkeling en milieubescherming. Door ambitieuze doelen te stellen en innovatieve strategieën te omarmen, maakt het plan de weg vrij voor een schonere, groenere en veerkrachtigere toekomst. 

DCNA 

De Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) ondersteunt (wetenschaps)communicatie en outreach in de Nederlandse Caribische regio door natuurgerelateerde (wetenschappelijke) informatie breder beschikbaar te maken via onder meer de Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s nieuwsplatform BioNews en via de pers. Dit artikel bevat informatie van verschillende projecten, maar de projecten zelf zijn geen DCNA-onderzoeken. Aan de inhoud kunnen geen rechten worden ontleend. DCNA is niet aansprakelijk voor de inhoud en de indirecte gevolgen die voortvloeien uit het publiceren van dit artikel. 

 

 

 

E Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente 2023-2030 di Hulanda Karibense ta un plan integral pa protehá i fortifiká nos ambiente natural den e próksimo 10 aña. Pa medio di e kuadro general akí i e agèndanan di implementashon spesífiko pa kada isla a desaroyá i inisiá un seri di programa i proyektona e islanan BES pa yuda realisá e metanan ambisioso, mehorá  konservashon en general di naturalesa i mehorá e resiliensia lokal kontra kambio di klima. 

Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente 2020-2030 

E Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente 2020-2030 ta presentá un strategia ku metanan stratégiko ambisioso i ophetivonan ku ta keda elaborá pa medio di logronan i den e agèndanan di implementashon spesífiko pa kada isla. E metanan, logronan i medidanan ta enfoká riba atendementu ku desafionan di medio ambiente urgente i riba promoshon di desaroyo sostenibel pa e islanan Boneiru, Saba i Sint Eustatius (BES). Meta di e maneho akí ta pa krea un kuadro pa implementashon di maneho progresivo ku ta protehá e paisahenan úniko i e biodiversidat di Hulanda Karibense i ku na mes momentu ta kombatí kambio di klima. 

French angel fish. Photo credit: MMBockstael-Rubio- all rights reserved

E ministerionan di Agrikultura, Naturalesa i Kalidat di Kuminda (LNV), Infrastruktura i Maneho di Awa (I&W) i Asuntunan di Interior i Relashonnan den Reino (BZK) den kolaborashon estrecho ku e entidatnan públiko Boneiru, Saba i Sint Eustatius i organisashonnan lokal a desaroyá e Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente 2020-2030. E plan akí ta un kontinuashon di e maneho anterior di medio ambiente i ta reflektá Hulanda su dedikashon pa kumpli ku  tratadonan internashonal, manera e Metanan Sostenibel di Desaroyo (SDG) di Nashonnan Uní, e metanan di e Tratado enkuanto Diversidat Biológiko (CBD) i e Tratado di Cartagena i e protokòlnan ku ta basá riba esaki. 

Metanan stratégiko 

Dentro di e kuadro akí a formulá kuater meta stratégiko. E promé ta pa drai bèk e degradashon di ref di koral pa medio di mihó kontròl riba eroshon, maneho efektivo di desperdisio i awa shushi i restorashon di ref di koral. E di dos meta stratégiko ta restorashon i konservashon di habitatnan i espesienan úniko, loke ta keda realisá pa medio di konservashon i preservashon di habitatnan i espesienan endémiko i pa medio di kombatí espesienan invasivo. E di tres meta stratégiko ta trata di uso sostenibel di tera i awa pa desaroyo di ekonomia lokal, kaminda énfasis lo ta riba piskamentu sostenibel, ponementu di turismo den ekilibrio ku preservashon di naturalesa i invershon den produkshon lokal i sostenibel di kuminda. E di kuater meta stratégiko, finalmente, tin komo ophetivo pa krea kondishonnan lokal pa resultadonan sostenibel di maneho di naturalesa, pa medio di mihó informashon, enseñansa i formashon, invershon den oportunidat pa trabou i desaroyo di un agènda di investigashon struktural. 

Programa i proyekto 

Na Boneiru, Sint Eustatius i Saba a instituí gruponan di direkshon pa kordiná, monitoreá i duna direkshon na implementashon di e Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente 2020-2030 i e agènda insular di implementashon. Gezaghèber di e isla ta presidí kada grupo di direkshon. E miembronan di e grupo di direkshon ta e ministerionan di Agrikultura, Naturalesa i Kalidat di Kuminda, Infrastruktura i Maneho di Awa, Asuntunan di Interior i Relashonnan den Reino i e entidat públiko en kestion. Na kada isla tin un mènedjer di programa pa implementashon di e  Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente 2020-2030  i e agènda di implementashon. E mènedjer di programa ta alabes sekretario di e grupo di direkshon. 

Teniendo kuenta ku e kapasidat limitá na kada isla, a establesé un struktura di programa pa inisiá, implementá i monitoreá e proyektonan efektivamente. Den kolaborashon estrecho ku i entre e gruponan di direkshon, gobièrnunan, outoridatnan di parke, organisashonnan no-gubernamental (ngo-nan) i organisashonnan partikular a entregá un seri di proyekto i proposishon pa proyekto ku ta den implementashon òf ku a finalisá, pa fasilitá kumplimentu ku e kuater metanan stratégiko akí. E proyektonan akí ta relashoná ku un variedat amplio di tópiko, entre otro maneho di awa shushi, kontròl di espesienan invasivo, monitoreo di kalidat di awa, restorashon di habitat i invershon den práktika inovativo di agrikultura manera hidrokultura, djis pa menshoná algun. Un bista general kompleto di e proyektonan enbolbí ta disponibel awor riba wèpsait di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (https://dcnanature.org/nepp-overview/) i ta keda aktualisá mensualmente i publiká den nan boletin di notisia digital grátis ‘BioNews’. 

Balor 

E Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medio Ambiente pa Hulanda Karibense ta un paso importante padilanti pa loke ta trata Hulanda su dedikashon na desaroyo sostenibel i protekshon di medio ambiente. Pa medio di formulá metanan ambisioso i brasa strategianan inovativo, e plan ta habri kaminda pa un futuro mas limpi, mas bèrdè i mas resiliente. 

DCNA 

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) ta sostené komunikashon (sientífiko) i ‘outreach’ den region hulandes karibense pa medio di hasi informashon sientífiko relashoná ku naturalesa mas ampliamente disponibel via entre otro Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA su plataforma di notisia BioNews i via prensa. E artíkulo akí ta kontené informashon di diferente proyekto, pero e proyektonan mes no ta investigashon di DCNA. No por derivá ningun derecho for di e kontenido. DCNA no ta responsabel pa e kontenido i e konsekuensianan indirekto ku ta surgi for di publikashon di e artíkulo akí.  

 

 

Published in BioNews 68

Date
2023
Data type
Media
Theme
Governance
Education and outreach
Legislation
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy visits the mangrove forests of Bonaire

Dutch, Papiamento, and Papiamentu below

On Tuesday, May 9th, 2023, the Minister for Climate and Energy, Drs. Rob Jetten, and his delegation visited Bonaire’s mangrove forest at Lac Bay. He was received by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and the Mangrove Maniacs Foundation that gave him a tour. He learned about the forest and the mangrove restoration taking place as well as the seagrass and coral restoration efforts by STINAPA. The Minister also got into the mud helping the volunteers with opening a channel.  

Minister Jetten and DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Photo credit: Casper Douma / DCNA

Mangrove ecosystems are very important for biodiversity and strengthen coastal areas against extreme weather conditions. They are important for tourism and fishery, and they are true carbon storage champions. Together with sea grass and wetlands, mangroves can play an important role in nature-based solutions to climate change, both in adaptation and mitigation strategies.  

The mangrove forest on Bonaire, the largest of the Kingdom, is struggling. Erosion and siltation cause bad water quality – including high salinity. This has resulted in continuing die offs of mangrove trees. Based on fisherman’s knowledge, satellite imagery, and local research, the Mangrove Maniacs open up channels to restore water circulation. A tough job, hence, their name ‘Maniacs’. In the last 10 years, the volunteers have already maintained more than 3km of channels by hand.  

The Minister for Climate and Energy, Drs. Rob Jetten, is co-hosting the Caribbean Climate & Energy Conference on Aruba from the 10th to the 12th of May. Before traveling there, he visited Bonaire. On the 9th of May 2023, the Mangrove Maniacs and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) escorted the Minister and his delegation on a tour through Bonaire’s mangrove forest in Lac Bay. During this tour, the Minister and the two organizations discussed the importance of mangrove forests, the stress the trees experience, and the need for mangrove and seagrass restoration. Not just for Bonaire, but also for the other five Dutch Caribbean islands. 

Globally, research is being conducted into how mangroves, sea grass, coral and wetlands can play a role in tackling the climate crisis. Through the local park management organizations and many other local NGOs in conservation, the Dutch Caribbean islands already possess a lot of knowledge and expertise on these ecosystems, how they can be restored, and how they can be used in climate mitigation and adaptation. The DCNA emphasized, however, that capacity building and structural financing is necessary and that cooperation between and with the six Dutch Caribbean islands is key.   

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Photo credit: Casper Douma / DCNA

Besides the fruitful conversations between the Minister and his delegation, the Mangrove Maniacs, and the DCNA, the Minister also got his hands ‘dirty’ while helping the volunteers of the Mangrove Maniacs with opening a channel.  


 

 

Op dinsdag 9 mei 2023 bezocht de Minister van Klimaat en Energie, drs. Rob Jetten, samen met zijn delegatie het mangrovebos van Bonaire in Lac Bay. Hij werd begeleid door de Mangrove Maniacs en de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), die hem rondleidden en uitleg gaven over het belangrijke werk van mangroveherstel door de Mangrove Maniacs. Ook het zeegras- en koraalherstel in het gebied door STINAPA werd onder de aandacht gebracht. De minister stak ook zijn handen uit de mouwen toen hij de vrijwilligers van de Mangrove Maniacs hielp bij het openen van een kanaal. 

Minister Jetten en DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Foto: DCNA

Mangrove-ecosystemen zijn erg belangrijk voor de biodiversiteit en spelen een rol in het versterken van kustgebieden tegen extreme weersomstandigheden. Ze zijn belangrijk voor toerisme en visserij en ze zijn echte kampioenen in koolstofopslag. Samen met zeegras en wetlands kunnen mangroven een belangrijke rol spelen in op natuur gebaseerde oplossingen voor klimaatverandering, zowel in aanpassings- als mitigatiestrategieën. 

Maar het mangrovebos op Bonaire, het grootste van het Koninkrijk, heeft het moeilijk. Erosie en verzanding hebben een slechte invloed op de waterkwaliteit – zo veroorzaakt het een hoog zoutgehalte. Dit heeft geresulteerd in een voortdurende afsterving van mangrovebomen. Op basis van de kennis van vissers, satellietbeelden en lokaal onderzoek openen de Mangrove Maniacs kanalen om de watercirculatie te herstellen. Een zware klus, vandaar hun naam ‘Maniacs’. In de afgelopen 10 jaar hebben de vrijwilligers al meer dan drie kilometeraan kanaal met de hand onderhouden. 

De Minister voor Klimaat en Energie, drs. Rob Jetten is van 10 tot en met 12 mei mede-gastheer van de Caribische Klimaat & Energie Conferentie op Aruba. Voor zijn reis naar Aruba, bezocht hij Bonaire. Op 9 mei 2023 begeleidden de Mangrove Maniacs en de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) de minister en zijn delegatie op een tour door het mangrovebos van Bonaire in Lac Bay. Tijdens deze rondleiding bespraken de minister en de twee organisaties het belang van mangrovebossen, de druk die de bossen ervaren en de noodzaak van mangroveherstel. Niet alleen voor Bonaire, maar ook voor de andere Caribische eilanden van het Koninkrijk waar mangroven voorkomen. 

Wereldwijd wordt onderzocht hoe mangroven, zeegras, koraal en wetlands een rol kunnen spelen bij het aanpakken van de klimaatcrisis. Natuurbeheerorganisaties en de vele lokale ngo’s  zorgen er voor dat er op de eilanden al over veel kennis en expertise over deze ecosystemen kan worden beschikt. Wat is er mogelijk en wat moet er gebeuren? Vooral zogenaamde nature based solutions kunnen een belangrijke rol spelen bij klimaatadaptatie. Zeker om dat de natuur al een cruciale rol speelt in vrijwel alle facetten van het leven op de eilanden. Tijdens de ontmoeting, benadrukte de DCNA dat capaciteitsopbouw en structurele financiering echter noodzakelijk zijn en dat samenwerking tussen en met de zes Nederlands Caribische eilanden centraal moet staan. 

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Foto: DCNA

Naast de vruchtbare gesprekken tussen de minister en zijn delegatie, de Mangrove Maniacs, en de DCNA, heeft de minister ook de handen uit de mouwen gestoken en hielp hij de vrijwilligers van de Mangrove Maniacs bij het openen van een kanaal. 


 

 

Diamars dia 9 di mei 2023 Minister di Clima y Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten hunto cu su delegacion a bishita e mondi di palo di mangel di Boneiro na Lac Baai. El a wordo compaña pa Mangrove Maniacs y Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), kendenan a mustr’e e alrededornan y a splica tocante e trabou importante di restauracion di e palo di mangelnan door di Mangrove Maniacs y restauracion di lima di lama door di STINAPA y e importancia di conservacion di naturalesa en general. E minister tambe a saca man yuda e boluntarionan di Mangrove Maniacs habri un canal.  

Minister Jetten and DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Foto: DCNA

Ecosistema di palo di mangel ta masha importante pa biodiversidad y ta fortalece e zonanan di costa contra condicion climatico extremo. Nan ta importante pa turismo y pesca, y ta berdadero campeon den almacenamento di carbon. Hunto cu lima di lama y e humedalnan, e palo di mangelnan por desempeña un papel importante den solucion di cambio climatico basa riba naturalesa, tanto den strategia di adaptacion como di mitigacion.  

Pero e mondi di palo di mangel na Boneiro, esun mas grandi di Reino, tin e dificil. Erosion y sedimentacion ta provoca un mal calidad di awa, incluyendo un nivel halto di salo. Esaki a resulta den murimento continuo di palo di mangel. Basa riba conocemento di e piscadonan, imagen di satelite y investigacion local, Mangrove Maniacs ta habri canal pa restaura circulacion di awa. Un trabou duro, door di esey e nomber “Maniacs”. Den e ultimo 10 añanan e boluntarionan ya a mantene mas di 3 km di canal cu man.  

Minister di Clima y Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten, ta coanfitrion di e Conferencia Caribense di Clima y Energia na Aruba di dia 10 pa 12 di mei. Prome di biaha bay eynan, el a bishita Boneiro. Dia 9 di mei di 2023 Mangrove Maniacs y Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) a compaña Minister y su delegacion den un recorido door di e mondinan di palo di mangel di Boneiro na Lac Baai. Durante e gira aki Minister y e dos organisacionnan a discuti importancia di e mondinan di palo di mangel, e presion cu e matanan ta experimenta y e necesidad pa restaura e palonan di mangel. No solamente pa Boneiro, sino tambe pa e otro islanan di Caribe Hulandes den cuanan bo ta haya mata di mangel.  

Na nivel mundial, nan ta realisando investigacion tocante con e palo di mangelnan, e limanan di lama y e humedales por desempeña un papel den e lucha contra e crisis climatico. Entre e organisacionnan di maneho di parke y otro organisacion di conservacion, e islanan di Caribe Hulandes ya ta posee hopi conocemento y experencia tocante e ecosistemanan aki, con por restaura nan y con por uza nan den mitigacion y adaptacion climatico. Sinembargo, DCNA a enfatisa cu desaroyo di e capacidadnan y financiamiento structural ta necesario y cu e cooperacion entre y cu e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes ta central.  

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Foto: DCNA

Ademas di e combersacionnan fructifero entre e Minister y su delegacion, Mangrove Maniacs y DCNA, e Minister tambe a saca man, yuda e boluntarionan di Mangrove Maniacs habri un canal.  


 

 

Riba djamars 9 di mei 2023, e Minister di Klima i Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten, huntu ku su delegashon a bishitá e mondinan di palu di mangel di Boneiru na Bahia di Lac. E tabata kompañá pa The Mangrove Maniacs i Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), ku a duna un guia na e sitio i tambe un splikashon di e trabou importante di restorashon di mondi di palu di mangel ku The Mangrove Maniacs ta hasi i e restorashon di yerba di laman ku ta na enkargo di STINAPA i e importansia di konservashon di naturalesa en general. E Minister a pone man na obra tambe dunando asistensia na e boluntarionan di The Mangrove Maniacs den nan trabou sushi di habri un kanal den lodo. 

Minister Jetten and DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Foto: DCNA

E ekosistemanan di Palu di mangel ta hopi importante pa biodiversidat i pa fortalesé áreanan na kosta kontra kondishonnan ekstremo di wer. Nan ta hopi importante pa turismo i peska, i nan ta un mangasina kampion pa almasená karbon. Huntu ku yerba di laman i áreanan akuátiko, palu di mangelnan por tin un papel importante den solushonnan basá riba naturalesa pa kambio di klima, tantu den strategianan di adaptashon komo den strategia di suavisá. 

E mondi di palu di mangel na Boneiru, ku ta esun di mas grandi den Reino hulandes, ta luchando pa sobrebibí. Eroshon i oumentu di sedimento ta kousa mal kalidat di awa – inkluso grado haltu di salu. Esaki a duna resultado ku palu di mangelnan ta muri bai kontinuamente. Basá riba konosementu di piskadó, mapanan di satélite, i investigashon lokal; The Mangrove Maniacs ta koba lodo pa habri kanal pa por restorá sirkulashon di awa. Un trabou duru, no ta pa nada e nòmber ‘Maniacs’. Den e último 10 añanan, e boluntarionan a logra kaba di habri mas ku 3 km di kanal ku trabou na man. 

E Minister di Klima I Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten, ta kompartí e funshon di anfitrion di e Caribbean Climate & Energy Conference na Aruba di 10 pa 12 di mei. Promé di biaha pa Aruba, el a bishitá Boneiru. Riba 9 di mei 2023 The Mangrove Maniacs ku Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) a duna e Minister ku su delegashon un eskurshon rònt di e mondinan di palu di mangel di Boneiru den Bahia di Lac. Durante e eskurshon, e Minister huntu ku e dos organisashonnan a diskutí e importansia di mondi di palu di mangel, e strès ku e palunan ta eksperensiá, i e nesesidat pa restorashon di palu di mangel. No solamente pa Boneiru, pero tambe pa e otro islanan di Hulanda Karibense ku tin palu di mangel. 

Na nivel global, ta hasiendo investigashon pa wak kon palu di mangel, yerba di laman i área akuátiko por hunga un papel den atendé ku e krísis di klima. Denter di e organisashonnan di maneho di parke natural i otro organisashon di konservashon di naturalesa, e islanan di Hulanda Karibense tin kaba hopi konosementu i ekspertisio di e ekosistemanan akí den nan man, tokante kon pa restorá nan i kon por usa nan den suavisá i adaptá kambio di klima. DCNA sinembargo a enfatisá, ku krea kapasidat i finansiamentu struktural ta nesesario i ku koperashon entre e seis islanan di Hulanda Karibense ta importante.  

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Foto: DCNA

Fuera di e kombersashonnan fruktífero entre e Minister i su delegashon, ku The Mangrove Maniacs, i DCNA, e Minister a pone tambe man na obra sushi di lodo pa asistí e boluntarionan di The Mangrove Maniacs den kobamentu pa habri un kanal. 

 

 

Published in BioNews 65

Date
2023
Data type
Media
Theme
Governance
Education and outreach
Geographic location
Bonaire
Author

Successful first in-person summit for the Caribbean Shark Coalition

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below.

 

The Caribbean Shark Coalition (CSC) met for their first in-person summit in St. Maarten from September 12-16, 2022. The workshop brought together stakeholders from 14 different countries to provide in-field training and support towards the long-term goals of building capacity for shark and ray science and conservation in the Greater Caribbean region. 

Within the Caribbean, protection for sharks and ray varies from island to island. Even on islands that have established shark sanctuaries or shark protection measures, there are still significant gaps in education, outreach and enforcement.  In an effort to build a more unified network for shark and ray conservation, the CSC brought together individuals from 14 different countries across the Greater Caribbean region to share details of their particular challenges and successes, and to provide training on how to properly plan and execute shark conservation projects in their home countries in the future. The CSC was co-founded by the  Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and Beneath the Waves (BTW)  in 2020 in response to international calls for enhanced, collaborative conservation efforts for sharks and rays in the Greater Caribbean region. 

In-Field Training 

Working together with the Nature Foundation St. Maarten, SXM Divers and Aquamania, participants spent two days learning how to deploy Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) stations for non-invasive habitat and species monitoring. Participants learned how to deploy and retrieve BRUVs, uniform data collection and recording techniques, and discussed methods and implementation for the devices in future projects. 

Participants also received hands on training for properly tagging and handling three species of sharks, including tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and blacknose sharks. These skills include how to set a drum line, how to safely secure and release a shark, standard methods for measurements, application of visual and passive integrated transponder tags and how to take biological samples, just to name a few.

Copyright Drew McDougall, Beneath the Waves

 

Workshop 

In conjunction with the in-field portion, participants also attended a full-day workshop to review the methodology used in the field and, more importantly, learned how to put this data into action. Dr. Oliver Shipley, Senior Research Scientist at BTW, provided key insight for proper data analysis and visualizations, important for connecting science, policy, and the general public. Tadzio Bervoets, former Director of DCNA, led a roundtable discussion on the number of challenges facing sharks (and marine conservation in general) throughout the wider Caribbean, and invited each participant to provide personal insights into how their individual organizations combat these challenges. 

Future Conservation 

Building collaboration throughout the Caribbean region works to improve interisland communication and build local capacity while also providing a deeper understanding for marine conservation and protection as a whole.  Moving forward, connections made throughout this workshop will help influence and shape shark and ray projects in the future.

The workshop is coordinated by the DCNA and BTW and is made possible thanks to funding from Blue Marine Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL) and operational support from GoPro for a Cause. 

Copyright Drew McDougall, Beneath the Waves

 

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Nederlands

Eerste succesvolle in levende lijve bijeenkomst voor de Caribbean Shark Coalition

De Caribbean Shark Coalition (CSC) ontmoette elkaar voor hun eerste keer in levende lijve in St. Maarten van 12-16 september 2022. De workshop bracht belanghebbenden uit 14 verschillende landen samen voor in-field training en om de lange termijn doelen voor capaciteitsopbouw voor de wetenschap en bescherming van haaien en roggen in het Caribische gebied te ondersteunen.

Binnen het Caribisch gebied varieert de bescherming van haaien en roggen drastisch van eiland tot eiland. Zelfs op eilanden die haaienreservaten hebben opgericht, zijn er nog steeds aanzienlijke tekortkomingen in onderwijs, outreach en handhaving. In een poging om een ​​meer verenigd netwerk voor het behoud van haaien en roggen op te bouwen, bracht de CSC individuen uit 14 verschillende landen in het Caribisch gebied samen om meer informatie over hun specifieke uitdagingen en successen te delen en training te geven om haaienbeschermingsprojecten in de toekomst goed te plannen en uit te voeren. De CSC werd in 2020 opgericht door de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) en Beneath the Waves (BTW) als reactie op internationale oproepen om de gezamenlijke inspanningen voor het behoud van haaien en roggen in het Caribisch gebied te verbeteren.

In-Field Training

In samenwerking met Nature Foundation St. Maarten, SXM Divers en Aqua Mania heeft het CSC twee dagen in het water doorgebracht om te leren hoe de zogenaamde Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs)  kunnen worden ingezet voor het monitoren van niet-invasieve habitats en soorten. Deelnemers leerden hoe ze BRUV’s konden inzetten en ophalen, uniforme gegevensverzameling en -registratie, en bespraken methoden en implementatie voor de apparaten in toekomstige projecten.

Deelnemers kregen ook praktische training voor het correct merken van drie soorten haaien, waaronder tijgerhaaien, Caribische rifhaaien en zwartsnuithaaien. Deze vaardigheden omvatten onder andere het opzetten van een drumlijn, het veilig vasthouden en loslaten van een haai, standaardmethoden voor metingen, het aanbrengen van Floy-tags en passieve geïntegreerde transpondertags en het nemen van biologische monsters.

Foto credit: Drew McDougall, Beneath the Waves- alle rechten voorbehouden

Workshop

Naast het veldgedeelte, namen de deelnemers ook deel aan een workshop om de in het veld gebruikte methodologie te herzien en, belangrijker nog, te leren hoe deze gegevens in actie konden worden gebracht. Dr. Oliver Shipley, Senior Research Scientist bij BTW, gaf belangrijke inzichten voor goede data-analyse en visualisaties, belangrijk voor het verbinden van wetenschap en het grote publiek. Tadzio Bervoets, voormalig directeur van DCNA, leidde een rondetafelgesprek over een aantal uitdagingen waarmee haaien en het behoud van de zee in het algemeen in het Caribisch gebied worden geconfronteerd en nodigde elke deelnemer uit om persoonlijk inzicht te geven in hoe hun individuele organisaties deze uitdagingen aanpakken.

Toekomstig behoud

Het opbouwen van samenwerkingsverbanden in het hele Caribische gebied werkt om de communicatie tussen de eilanden te verbeteren en lokale capaciteit op te bouwen, terwijl het ook een dieper inzicht geeft in het behoud en de bescherming van de zee als geheel. In de toekomst zullen de verbindingen die tijdens deze workshop werden gelegd, helpen bij het beïnvloeden en vormgeven van toekomstige haaien- en roggenprojecten.

De workshop werd gecoördineerd door het DCNA en BTW en werd mogelijk gemaakt dankzij financiering van Blue Marine FoundationWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL)  en operationele steun van GoPro for a Cause.

Foto credit: Drew McDougall, Beneath the Waves- alle rechten voorbehouden

 

 

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Papiamento 

Exitoso prome cumbre presencial pa Caribbean Shark Coalition

Caribbean Shark Coalition (CSC) a reuni pa su prome cumbre presencial na St. Maarten di dia 12 pa dia 16 di september di aña 2022. E tayer a reuni stakeholder di 14 diferente pais pa brinda capacitacion den veld y duna apoyo na meta riba termino largo di creacion di capacidad pa ciencia y conservacion di tiburon y manta den region di Gran Caribe. 

Dentro di Caribe proteccion di tiburon y manta ta varia di un isla pa otro. Hasts na e islanan cu a establece santuario di tiburon of medida di proteccion di tiburon, te ainda tin gap significativo den educacion, divulgacion y cumplimento. Den un intento pa construi un red mas uni pa conservacion di tiburon y manta, CSC a reuni persona di 14 diferente pais di region di Gran Caribe pa comparti detaye di nan desafionan y exitonan particular, y pa brinda capacitacion tocante con pa planea y ehecuta adecuadamente proyecto di conservacion di tiburon na nan pais di origen den futuro. CSC a wordo cofundado door di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) y Beneath the Waves (BTW) na aña 2020 como reaccion na e yamadanan internacional pa mehora e esfuersonan colaborativo di conservacion di tiburon y manta den region di Gran Caribe. 

Capacitacion den veld 

Den cooperacion cu Nature Foundation St. Maarten, SXM Divers y Aquamania, e participantenan a  pasa dos dia siñando con pa implementa stacion di Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) pa monitoreo no invasivo di habitat y especie. E participantenan a siña con pa implementa y busca BRUV, tecnica uniforme di recoleccion y registro di dato, y nan a discuti metodo y implementacion di e aparatonan den futuro proyecto. 

E participantenan tambe a ricibi capacitacion practico pa etiketa y manipula corectamente tres sorto di tiburon, incluyendo tiburon tiger, tiburon di rif di Caribe y tiburon nanishi preto. E habilidadnan aki a inclui con pa configura un drum line, con pa proteha y libra un tiburon na un manera sigur, metodo standard pa midimento, aplicacion di etiketa di transport integra y visual y pasivo y con pa tuma muestra biologico, djis pa menciona algun. 

Fuente di foto: Drew Mc Dougall, Beneath the Wavess

Tayer 

Den combinacion cu e parte di campo, e participantenan tambe a asisti na un tayer di un dia completo pa revisa e metodologia utilisa den e campo y, loke ta mas importante, nan a siña con pa pone e datonan aki den accion. Dr. Oliver Shipley, cientifico investigado senior di BTW, a brinda informacion clave pa analisis y  visualizacion di dato adecuado, importante pa conecta ciencia, maneho y publico en general. Tadzio Bervoets, exdirector di DCNA, a dirigi un combersacion di mesa redonda tocante e cantidad di desafio cu e tiburonnan (y conservacion marino en general) ta confronta den henter Gran Caribe, y a invita cada participante pa brinda informacion personal tocante con su organisacion individual ta combati e desafionan aki. 

Futuro Conservacion  

Creacion di colaboracion den henter e region di Caribe ta funciona pa mehora comunicacion entre e islanan y desaroya capacidad local, mientras cu tambe e ta duna un comprension mas profundo di conservacion y proteccion marino den su totalidad. E conexion realisa durante e tayer aki lo yuda influi y duna forma na proyecto di tiburon y manta den futuro. 

E tayer a wordo coordina pa DCNA y BTW y por a keda realisa danki na financiacion di Blue Marine Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL) y apoyo operativo di GoPro for a Cause. 

Fuente di foto: Drew Mc Dougall, Beneath the Waves

 

 

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Papiamentu

Promé kumbre en persona eksitoso di Caribbean Shark Coalition

Caribbean Shark Coalition / Koalishon di Tribon Karibense (CSC) a reuní pa di promé biaha den un kumbre en persona di 12 pa 16 di sèptèmber 2022 na Sint Maarten. E tayer a trese stakeholdernan for di 14 diferente pais huntu pa haña treinen den práktika i sosten pa metanan pa término largu pa krea kapasidat di konosementu i konservashon di tribon i chuchu den e region di Karibe Amplio 

Denter di e área di Karibe, e protekshon di tribon i chuchu ta varia di isla pa isla. Hasta riba e islanan kaminda nan a introdusí santuario òf medidanan di protekshon di tribon, tin te ainda hiato signifikante den enseñansa, embolbimentu di komunidat i implementashon. Den un intento pa krea un ret di kontakto mas uní pa konservashon di tribon i chuchu, CSC a trese huntu personanan for di 14 diferente pais di e Region di Karibe Amplio, pa kompartí detayenan tokante nan retonan spesífiko i nan éksitonan, i pa duna entrenamentu tokante kon pa planifiká i implementá korektamente proyektonan di konservashon di tribon na nan pais di orígen den futuro. CSC ta fundá na 2020 konhuntamente pa Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) i “Beneath the Waves (BTW) komo reakshon riba yamadanan internashonal pa mas esfuerso di kolaborashon intensifiká pa konservashon di tribon i chuchu den e Region di Karibe Amplio. 

Training den práktika 

Den kolaborashon ku Nature Foundation St. Maarten, SXM DIVERS i Aquamania, e partisipantenan durante dos dia largu a siña kon nan por instalá e asina yamá Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) / stashon di bou di awa ekipá ku as i ku aparato di graba video pa por monitoriá habitat i espesie ku no ta invasivo. Partisipantenan a siña, kon por instalá i rekohé e stashonnan “BRUV”, uso di téknikanan uniforme pa kolekshon di dato, téknika di graba, i a diskutí tokante método i implementashon di e aparatonan den futuro proyektonan. 

E partisipantenan a risibí tambe training práktiko pa por pone marka i atendé korektamente ku  tres tipo di tribon, inkluso tribon tintorero, tribon di ref Karibense i tribon “blacknose shark”. E abilidatnan aki ta enserá kon ta instalá un stashon “drumline”, kon ta atendé safe ku maramentu i ponementu den libertat di tribon, métodonan standarisá pa midimentu, instalá marka visual i marka ku ta manda señal i tambe kon ta tuma muestranan biológiko, pa por menshoná algun aktividat. 

Fuente di foto: Drew Mc Dougall, Beneath the Waves

Tayer 

Den kombinashon ku e parti di riba vèlt, e partisipantenan a tuma parti tambe na un tayer di un dia kompletu pa por evaluá e metodologia ku tabata usa riba tereno i, mas importante ainda, siña kon ta pone e datonan den akshon. Dr. Oliver Shipley, Séniòr Investigadó Sientífiko di BTW, a duna un splikashon importante kon pa yega na análisis korekto di dato i visualisá dato, loke ta importante pa por konektá ku siensia, ku trahamentu di maneho i públiko en general. Tadzo Bervoets, Direktor anterior di DCNA, a dirigí un seshon di diskushon na mesa rondó tokante e kantidat di retonan tokante tribon (i konservashon marino en general) den e área di Karibe Amplio i a invitá kada partisipante pa personalmente duna un bista kon nan organisashonnan lokal ta atendé ku e retonan akí. 

Futuro Konservashon 

Kreando kolaborashon rònt e área di Karibe ta traha pa mehorá e komunikashon entre e islanan i pa krea kapasidat lokal, miéntras ku tambe ta duna un komprenshon mas profundo pa konservashon marino i protekshon di laman den su totalidat. Riba kaminda pa dilanti e konekshonnan, ku a konstruí durante e tayer akí, lo yuda na influensiá i duna forma na proyektonan di tribon i chuchu den futuro. 

E tayer tabata kordiná pa DCNA i BTW i a bira posibel danki na e finansiamentu di Blue Marine FoundationWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL) i ku sosten operashonal di GoPro for a Cause.  

Fuente di foto: Drew Mc Dougall, Beneath the Waves

 

 

 

Published in BioNews 58.

 

 

Date
2022
Data type
Media
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Bionews Diadema Special Edition - Background and Current State

As previously mentioned, a new wave of long-spiced sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) die-offs are happening throughout the Caribbean, including reports from the northern three islands of the Dutch Caribbean.

 

In mid-February 2022, the first reports of extensive Diadema die-offs came in from St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Within a month, additional mortality events had been independently observed on Saba, St. Eustatius, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Vincent. On St Maarten, Diadema loss has been recorded on the dive sites Little Bay (fort Amsterdam), Frenchman’s Reef and Cowboy Reef (Indigo Bay). In Curaçao, the first sightings of diseased sea urchins were reported in early June.  Two weeks later, more than 90% of the surveyed populations had disappeared.

On March 14th, 2022, St. Eustatius’ STENAPA was alerted by dive shops of a significant number of dead long-spined sea urchins in the artificial harbor area.  After conducting a survey, it was determined that 44% of the urchins were dead and 6% appeared to be sick, leaving only half the population in a healthy state.  The sick urchins were unable to stay attached to the substrate and had very minimal spine movement.

The video below was taken on St. Eustatius in March of 2022 by Kitmani Kitson-Walters (CNSI) and shows a number of sick and dying urchins across the seafloor.

A collaborative region-wide effort – the Diadema Response Network – has quickly formed to track and try to understand the cause of this recent die-off of Diadema (and possibly other sea urchins).

 

Special Diadema BioNews Edition Navigation

 

 

Date
2022
Data type
Media
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Blue Marine Foundation launches new partnership with Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Nederlands, Papiamentu and Papiamento below

 

Ocean charity makes initial grant of $90,000 to marine parks on six Dutch Caribbean islands. Award will fund projects including coral protection, and training youth marine rangers. 

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Ocean conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation has announced it is awarding $90,000 in funding to support marine conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. A range of projects run by protected area management organisations on six islands will each receive a grant of $15,000. The funding is the first step in a longer-term partnership to support the islands and help secure sustainable financing through the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Trust fund

To improve ocean governance, Blue Marine uses a combination of top-down intervention and bottom-up project delivery to help local communities at the front line of conservation. It will work together with the DCNA to help marine-park organisations protect the unique and threatened biodiversity of the Dutch Caribbean. 

The new partnership is an important development in the successful management of marine conservation parks in the Dutch Caribbean. The UK-based charity has established a small-grants fund to provide rapid access to support for critical conservation projects run by marine parks. 

The individual projects and their local partners are:  

  • Curaçao: establishing a bus transport marine education program and youth marine ranger program, in conjunction with Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)  

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

 

Unique ecosystems on the islands are vulnerable to threats such as feral livestock causing sedimentation on reefs, and invasive species, including lionfish and coral diseases. They are also at risk from overfishing, climate change, coastal development, erosion and the build-up of harmful algae caused by waste water. 

The islands of the Dutch Caribbean are also home to important “blue carbon” habitats – ocean ecosystems such as seagrasses, mangroves and other marine plants that suck up and lock away carbon from the earth’s atmosphere. Seagrass is so efficient at this it can capture and store carbon dioxide up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. The management and protection of these blue carbon habitats is vital in the fight against climate change.  

Current marine conservation measures in the islands include a 25,390 square km mammal and shark sanctuary- Yarari sanctuary- across the Exclusive Economic Zone of Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius. All six islands have inshore Marine Protected Areas ranging in size from 10 to 60 sq km.  

Blue Marine’s Senior Project Manager Jude Brown commented: 

Having recently visited two of the islands, I witnessed first-hand how special this region is. Diving the waters off Saba I saw huge Tarpon swimming amongst shoals of blue tang, and hawksbill turtles feeding on the seagrass beds. I also witnessed the challenges these islands are facing from coral disease to issues with coastal development. It is an exciting opportunity to work in the Dutch Caribbean, bringing expertise and funding from Blue Marine to join with the wealth of knowledge already on the islands, to work together to protect the important marine life arounds these islands.

Tadzio Bervoets, Director of the DNCA commented: “The Dutch Caribbean consists of the Windward Islands of St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius and the Leeward Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. The nature of the Dutch Caribbean contains the richest biodiversity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The diverse ecosystems are a magnet for tourism and at the same time the most important source of income for residents of the Dutch Caribbean. Nature on the islands is unique and important but it is also fragile. The coming week we will be in The Netherlands to present a Climate Action Plan for the Dutch Caribbean to emphasize the urgent need for a climate smart future for our islands.”  

 

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Nederlands

Blue Marine Foundation lanceert nieuwe samenwerking met Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

“Goed doel voor oceanen schenkt aanvankelijk $90.000 aan mariene parken op zes Nederlands-Caribische eilanden. Deze donatie zal verschillende projecten financieren, waaronder bescherming van koralen en het opleiden van jonge mariene park rangers.

Foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

De Blue Marine Foundation, een liefdadigheidsorganisatie voor het behoud van oceanen, heeft aangekondigd dat het $ 90.000 aan financiering toekent ter ondersteuning van het behoud van de zee in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied. Verschillende projecten die worden uitgevoerd door de organisaties voor het beheer van beschermde gebieden op de zes eilanden, ontvangen elk een subsidie ​​van $15.000. De financiering is de eerste stap in een langetermijnpartnerschap om de eilanden te ondersteunen en duurzame financiering te helpen verzekeren via het  Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Trust fund.

Om het oceaanbeheer te verbeteren, gebruikt Blue Marine een combinatie van top-down interventies en bottom-up projecten om lokale gemeenschappen in de frontlinie van natuurbehoud te helpen. Blue Marine zal samenwerken met het DCNA om de organisaties die de mariene parken beheren te helpen de unieke en bedreigde biodiversiteit in het Caribisch Nederlands gebied te beschermen.

De nieuwe samenwerking is een belangrijke ontwikkeling in het succesvolle beheer van mariene natuurparken in het Nedrelands Caribisch gebied. De in het Verenigd Koninkrijk gevestigde liefdadigheidsinstelling heeft een fonds voor kleine subsidies opgericht om snelle toegang te bieden tot ondersteuning voor kritieke natuurbehoudsprojecten van mariene parken.

De individuele projecten en hun lokale partners zijn:

 

 

 

  • Curaçao: het opzetten van een maritiem educatieprogramma met busvervoer en een maritiem ranger programma voor jongeren, in samenwerking met Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)

 

 

 

 

Foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Unieke ecosystemen op de eilanden zijn kwetsbaar voor bedreigingen zoals lopslopend vee dat sedimentatie op riffen veroorzaakt, en invasieve soorten, waaronder koraalduivels en koraalziekten. Ze lopen ook risico door overbevissing, klimaatverandering, kustontwikkeling, erosie en de toename van schadelijke algen veroorzaakt door afvalwater.

De eilanden in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied zijn ook de thuisbasis van belangrijke “blauwe koolstof”-habitats – oceaanecosystemen zoals zeegrassen, mangroven en andere zeeplanten die koolstof opnemen en vasthouden van de atmosfeer van de aarde. Zeegras is hier zo efficiënt in dat het tot 35 keer sneller koolstofdioxide kan opvangen en opslaan dan tropische regenwouden. Het beheer en de bescherming van deze blauwe koolstofhabitats is van vitaal belang in de strijd tegen klimaatverandering.

De huidige maatregelen voor het behoud van de zee rondom de eilanden is onder andere een 25.390 vierkante kilometer groot reservaat voor zoogdieren en haaien – Yarari-reservaat – in de exclusieve economische zone van Bonaire, Saba en Sint Eustatius. Daarnaast hebben alle zes de eilanden langs de kust beschermde mariene gebieden, variërend in grootte van 10 tot 60 vierkante kilometer.

Blue Marine’s Senior Project Manager Jude Brown:

“Na onlangs twee van de eilanden te hebben bezocht, heb ik met eigen ogen gezien hoe bijzonder deze regio is. Toen ik in de wateren van Saba aan het duiken was, zag ik een enorme Tarpon zwemmen tussen een school Blue Tang vissen, en karetschildpadden die zich voedden van de zeegrasvelden. Ik was ook getuige van de uitdagingen waarmee deze eilanden worden geconfronteerd, van koraalziektes tot problemen met kustontwikkeling. Het is een geweldige kans om in de het Nederlands Caribisch gebied te werken, met expertise en financiering van Blue Marine om samen te werken met de schat aan kennis die al op de eilanden is, om zo samen het belangrijke zeeleven rond deze eilanden te beschermen.”

Tadzio Bervoets, directeur van de DNCA: “Het Nederlands Caribisch gebied bestaat uit de Bovenwindse eilanden St. Maarten, Saba en St. Eustatius en de Benedenwindse eilanden Aruba, Bonaire en Curaçao. De natuur van het Nedrelands Caribisch gebied bevat de rijkste biodiversiteit van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden. De diverse ecosystemen zijn een magneet voor het toerisme en tegelijkertijd de belangrijkste bron van inkomsten voor inwoners van het Nederlands Caribisch gebied. De natuur op de eilanden is uniek en belangrijk, maar ook kwetsbaar. De komende week zijn we in Nederland om een ​​Klimaatactieplan voor de Nederlandse Caraïben te presenteren om de dringende noodzaak van een klimaatslimme toekomst voor onze eilanden te benadrukken. ”

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Papiamento 

Blue Marine Foundation ta lansa un colaboracion nobo cu Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Ocean Charity ta haci un donacion inicial di $90,000 na e parkenan marino riba e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes. E donacion lo financia proyecto, entre otro proteccion di coral y capacitacion di marine ranger hoben.

Rif di coral den Caribe Hulandes (credito di potret: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reserva)

E organisacion di caridad pa conservacion di ocean Blue Marine Foundation a anuncia cu e ta otorga $90,000 den fondo pa apoya conservacion di lama den Caribe Hulandes. Un cantidad di proyecto cu ta wordo ehecuta door di organisacionnan di maneho di area proteha na e seis islanan lo ricibi cada un un donacion di $15,000. E financiamento ta e prome paso den un asociacion a largo plazo pa sostene e islanan y yuda sigura financiamento sostenibel via Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Trustfonds.

Pa mehora maneho di ocean, Blue Marine ta haci uzo di un combinacion di intervencion top-down y entrega di proyecto bottom-up pa yuda e comunidadnan local den frontline di conservacion di naturalesa. Lo traha hunto cu DCNA pa yuda e organisacionnan di parke marino proteha e biodiversidad unico y menasa di Caribe Hulandes.

E asociacion nobo ta un desaroyo importante den maneho exitoso di e parkenan di conservacion marino den Caribe Hulandes. E organisacion di caridad situa den Reino Unido a establece un fondo di subsidio chikito pa brinda acceso rapido pa sosten pa proyecto di conservacion di naturalesa den situacion critico di parkenan marino.

E proyectonan individual y nan socionan local ta:

 

  • Aruba: monitoreo di e calidad di awa den Area Marina Proteha (AMP) y moerasnan, conhuntamente cu Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)

 

 

  • Corsou: a establece un programa di educacion marino di transporte den autobus y un programa di marine ranger hoben, conhuntamente cu Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)

 

 

 

Rif di coral den Caribe Hulandes (credito di potret: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reserva)

Ecosistemanan unico na e islanan ta vulnerabel pa menasa manera bestia di cria salvahe cu ta causa sedimentacion na e rifnan y e especienan invasor, incluyendo lionfish y enfermedadnan di coral. Tambe nan ta core riesgo di sobrepesca, cambio di clima, desaroyo di costa, erosion y acumulacion di alga dañino causa pa awa residual.

E islanan di Caribe Hulandes tambe ta habitat importante di “carbon blauw”: ecosistema di ocean manera yerba di lama, mangel y otro mata di lama cu ta absorba y mantene carbon di e atmosfera di tera. E yerbanan di lama ta asina eficiente den esaki cu nan por captura y warda dioxido di carbon hasta 35 biaha mas rapido cu selvanan tropical. E maneho y proteccion di e habitatnan di carbon blauw ta vital den e lucha contra cambio di clima.

E medidanan actual pa conservacion di lama na e islanan ta inclui un santuario di mamifero y tribon di 25.390 km cuadra, santuario di Yarari, den e Zona Economico Exclusivo di Boneiro, Saba y Sint Eustatius. E seis islanan tin Area di lama Proteha di costa cu ta varia den tamaño di 10 pa 60 kilometer cuadra.

 

Jude Brown, Gerente Senior di Proyecto di Blue Marine, a comenta:

Despues di a bishita dos di e islanan recientemente, mi tabata testigo di con special e region aki ta. Buceando den e awanan di Saba, mi a mira Tarpon enorme ta landa entre scol di blue tang y tortuga caret alimentando nan mes cu yerba di lama. Tambe mi a mira e desafionan cu e islanan aki ta enfrenta, desde malesa di coral te problema cu desaroyo di costa. Ta un oportunidad emocionante traha den Caribe Hulandes, aportando experiencia y fondo di Blue Marine pa uni cu e rikesa di conocemento cu ya tin na e islanan aki, pa traha hunto pa proteha e bida marino importante rond di e islanan aki.

Tadzio Bervoets, Director di e DNCA a comenta: “Caribe Hulandes ta consisti di e Islanan bou di biento di St. Maarten, Saba y St. Eustatius y e Islanan riba biento Aruba, Boneiro y Corsou. E naturalesa di Caribe Hulandes ta contene e biodiversidad mas rico di Reino di Hulanda. E diverso ecosistemanan ta un magnet pa turismo y, na mes momento, e fuente di ingreso mas importante pa e residentenan di Caribe Hulandes. E naturalesa di e islanan ta unico y importante, pero tambe fragil. Otro siman nos lo ta na Hulanda pa presenta un Plan di Accion di Clima pa Caribe Hulandes pa enfatisa e necesidad urgente pa un futuro di clima inteligente pa nos islanan.”

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Papiamentu

Blue Marine Foundation ta lansa koperashon di partner nobo ku Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Blue Marine Foundation, un fundashon pa fondo destiná pa bienestar di Oséano, ta pone fondo di supsidio inisial di $90.000 pa parke marinonan riba e seis islanan di Karibe Hulandes. E supsidio lo ta pa proyektonan inkluso protekshon di koral i entrenamentu di ranger marino hóben.

Ref di koral na Karibe Hulandes (fuente di foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reservá)

Blue Marine Foundation a anunsiá su desishon pa otorgá $90.000,00 na fondo di supsidio pa sostené konservashon marino na Karibe Hulandes. Un grupo di proyekto bou di supervishon di organisashonnan di maneho di áreanan protehá riba e seis islanan lo risibí kada unu un supsidio di $15.000,00. E fondo ta e promé paso den un koperashon di partner riba término largu pa sostené e islanan i yuda sigurá finansiamentu duradero via e Trust fund di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA)

Pa drecha maneho di oséano, Blue Marine ta hasi uso di un kombinashon di práktika pa yuda komunidatnan na frente di konservashon ku ta: di intervenshon di ariba bai abou i di proyektonan den ehekushon. E lo traha huntu ku  DCNA pa yuda e organisashonnan di parke marino protehá e biodiversidat úniko di Karibe Hulandes ku ta bou di menasa.

E kolaborashon di sosio nobo ta un desaroyo importante den e maneho eksitoso di e parke marinonan na Karibe Hulandes. E fundashon ku base na Reino Uní a krea un fondo pa supsidio chikitu pa suministrá akseso rápido pa sosten di proyektonan importante ku parke marinonan ta manehá.

 

E proyektonan individual i nan partnernan lokal ta:

 

 

  • Boneiru: evaluashon di pèrdida di koral di piedra (‘Acroporid’ ku ta p. e. ‘staghorn coral’ (koral kachu grandi) i ‘elkhorn coral’ (koral kachu di biná), i nan potensial di futuro rekuperashon, huntu ku Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire)

 

  • Kòrsou: realisá un programa di edukashon ku transporte via bùs i un programa di ranger marino hubenil, huntu ku Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)

 

  • Saba: kreashon di un kamber ku kontrol di klima pa e stashon marino nobo riba tereno, huntu ku .

 

 

Ref di koral na Karibe Hulandes (fuente di foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reservá)

Ekosistemanan úniko na e islanan ta vulnerabel pa e animalnan di krio ku ta kana liber rònt i ta kousa sedimentashon riba refnan, i espesienan invasivo, inkluso ‘lionfish’ i malesa di koral. Tambe nan ta kore peliger kousá pa ekseso di piskamentu, kambio di klima, desaroyo di tereno na kosta, eroshon i oumentu di alga dañino ku awa shushi ta krea.

E islanan di Karibe Hulandes ta kas tambe pa e habitatnan importante di “karbon blou” – ekosistemanan di oséano manera yerba di laman, palu di mangel i otro matanan marino ku ta almasená i tene karbon ku tin den e atmósfera di mundu. Yerba di laman ta asina efisiente den e proseso akí ku e por kapta i almasená karbon dióksido na velosidat te ku 35 biaha mas lihé ku e selvanan tropikal.  Maneho i protekshon di e habitatnan akí di karbon blou akí ta vital den e kombate kontra kambio di klima.

Konservashon marino aktual na e islanan ta inkluí un superfisie di 25.390 km2 di santuario pa mamífero marino i tribon – Yarari santuario na otro banda di e Zona Ekonómiko Eksklusivo di di Boneiru, Saba i Statia. Tur seis isla tin Áreanan Marino Protehá pegá na kosta ku ta varia di superfisie entre 10 pa 60 km2.

Blue Marine su Séniòr Manager di Proyekto Jude Brown ta komentá:

“Despues di un bishita resien na dos di e islanan, mi a eksperensiá di propio fuente kon spesial e region akí ta. Sambuyando na Saba mi a mira sábalo enorme landa meimei di mancha di kleinfeshi blou i turtuga kawama komiendo di kama di yerba di laman. Tambe mi a mira e retonan ku e islanan akí ta enfrentando di malesa di koral te ku problemanan ku desaroyo di tereno na kosta. Ta un oportunidat eksitante pa traha den Karibe Hulandes, kontribuyendo ku ekspertisio i fondo di Blue Marine pa djòin e rikesa di konosementu ku ta eksistí kaba riba e islanan, pa kolaborá den protekshon di e bida marino importante rònt di e islanan akí.”

Tadzio Bervoets, Direktor di DNCA a reakshoná: “Karibe Hulandes ta konsistí di e islanan di Islariba; St. Maarten, Saba, i Statia huntu ku e islanan di Islanan Abou; Aruba, Boneiru i Kòrsou. E naturalesa di Karibe Hulandes ta kontené e biodiversidat di mas riku den Reino Hulandes. E ekosistemanan diverso ta un magnet pa turismo i na e mes momentu e fuente di entrada mas importante pa e habitantenan di Karibe Hulandes. Naturalesa na e islanan ta úniko i importante pero tambe e ta frágil. Den siman binidero nos lo ta na Hulanda pa presentá un Plan di Akshon di Klima pa Karibe Hulandes pa enfatisá e nesesidat urgente di un futuro ‘smart’ pa nos islanan.”

 

 

Published in BioNews 53

Date
2022
Data type
Media
Theme
Governance
Education and outreach
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Coral diversity matches marine park zonation but not economic value of coral reef sites at St. Eustatius, eastern Caribbean

A B S T R A C T
Stony corals play a key role in the marine biodiversity of many tropical coastal areas as suppliers of substrate, food and shelter for other reef organisms. Therefore, it is remarkable that coral diversity usually does not play a role in the planning of protected areas in coral reef areas. In the present study we examine how stony coral diversity patterns relate to marine park zonation and the economic value of reefs around St. Eustatius, a small island in the eastern Caribbean, with fisheries and tourism as important sources of income. The marine park contains two no-take reserves. A biodiversity survey was performed at 39 sites, 24 inside the reserves and 15 outside; 22 had a maximum depth >18 m and 17 were shallower. Data on economic value per site were obtained from the literature. Corals were photographed for the verification of identifications made in the field. Coral species richness (n = 49) was highest in the no-take reserves and species composition was mainly affected by maximum depth. No distinct relation is observed between coral diversity and fishery value or total economic value. Based on the outcome of this study we suggest that in future designs of marine park zonation in reef areas, coral diversity should be taken into consideration. This is best served by including reef areas with a continuous depth gradient from shallow flats to deep slopes.

 

 

Supplementary material 

https://www.dcbd.nl/document/electronic-supplementary-material-1

Date
2022
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Eustatius

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance is Preparing Dutch Caribbean Conservation Organizations to Withstand External Shocks

Kralendijk – The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance’s (DCNA) bi-annual board meeting took place during the recent convention held in Curaçao. Their Excellencies, Governors Holiday and Boekhoudt from Sint Maarten and Aruba, as well as Mr. Jaime Saleh, patron of DCNA, were present as observers for crucial discussions on governance and DCNA’s strategic vision moving forward.

The arrival of Their Excellencies, Governors Holiday and Boekhoudt

 

Strategic vision

After 15 years of existence, DCNA has the requisite tools needed to enable its member organizations to withstand looming challenges. While the immediate support to parks due to COVID-19 remains essential, DCNA must also focus on the impact of climate change, which is an existential threat to the lives and livelihoods of Dutch Caribbean Communities.

Director of DCNA, Tadzio Bervoets, says “it is crucial to increase the resiliency of our Protected Area Management Organizations to hold out against the myriad external shocks that are heading our way due to global warming. Another important strategic objective is to advice our local governments more effectively since they remain an important stakeholder.”

Good governance

In order to better serve the Protected Area Management Organizations, DCNA will move from a one-tiered to a two-tiered governance structure. This will allow management to focus on routine managerial tasks, while the board handles long-term decision-making and strategic planning. During the board meeting, the team dealt with the basic good governance procedures, such as approval of the budget for 2022 and approval of the 2021 Financial Statements. The board meeting also offered an opportunity for the secretariat and the Protected Area Management Organizations to share activities carried out since the last board meeting in April.

The way forward

The board agreed on a strategic plan for the period of 2021-2030 that takes into consideration the common challenges among the nature conservation organizations as well as island-specific needs. Raising awareness of these developments is an import aspect of DCNA’s goals. “We are in the final stages of hiring a PR and Information Officer who will increase our own capacity to communicate and help the parks to communicate with their respective communities as well”, says Bervoets.

More information about the DCNA board meeting can be found on DCNA’s Facebook page: DutchCaribbeanNatureAlliance

 

Article published in the Special Edition BioNews:  2021 DCNA Convention

Date
2021
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Saba Bank: DCNA Tiger Shark Expedition 2021

July 31st – August 7th, 2021 – For the first time on the Saba Bank, an expedition team was able to successfully assess the shark diversity by attaching five satellite tags and confirming pregnancy stages by ultrasound of two species of sharks. This research advancement resulted in assessing 56 sharks, including 16 Tiger sharks with one confirmed early-stage pregnancy, and the first tagged male in the region. These details inform us that the Saba Bank’s important role in the shark populations of the North-Eastern and wider Caribbean Region have yet to be unlocked. This information is crucial to better protect sharks within the Dutch Caribbean’s Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary as well as beyond.

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) along with the Protected Area Management Organizations of the Dutch Caribbean: Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF)Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM), St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA)STINAPA Bonaire, the Aruba National Parks Foundation (FPNA), the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and World Wildlife Fund for Nature- The Netherlands (WWF-NL) led a team on the Saba Bank in collaboration with Arizona State University, University of Groningen, Beneath the Waves and funded by the Biodiversity Fund of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature- The Netherlands (WWF-NL) .

This week-long ocean research expedition aimed to understand the stages of the reproductive cycle of tiger sharks on the Saba Bank. Tadzio Bervoets, Director of DCNA and expedition leader adds “It is critical to collect the data necessary to advance the conservation actions for species of sharks in the Caribbean Region and with the data collected over the last week we have been able to get a clear picture of the important role the Saba Bank plays”. This expedition built upon previous research and expertise from collaborating scientists.

Throughout the week, the team was able to deploy five satellite tags on the dorsal fin of tiger sharks which will allow tracking of the animals over an extended period of time. The ultrasounds which were taken using high technology imagery to determine the maturity and pregnancy stage supported by Brooke Anderson, Ph.D. candidate of Dr. James Sulikowski’s Lab, Arizona State University show that the Saba Bank is a reproductive area for IUCN Near Threatened listed species tiger and the IUCN endangered listed Caribbean Reef Shark. One of the female tiger sharks was confirmed with an early stage pregnancy and boasted a total length of 251cm. This multidisciplinary research approach is necessary for taking the first steps in understanding the reproductive life cycle for the species in the region.

One of the mysteries which resulted was the first tagged male on the Saba Bank sized at 306 cm and later named Maestro Angelo. While it is common to find females, it was surprising to encounter male tiger sharks during the research. Due to the lack of research done previously on these sharks on the Saba Bank, it became evident as to why there is a need to emphasize the importance and need for scientific research into these species.

Expeditions brought forward by the protected area management organizations, such as this one, support the necessary research needed for data-driven management solutions. These results will be used to help steer future research activities, inform local governments on the significant impact these species and their habitats have on ecotourism, and ultimately strengthen conservation policies. Ayumi Kuramae, Saba Bank Management Unit Officer shared the importance of this study, “Through previous tagging expeditions it was clear that the tiger sharks tagged on the Saba Bank can travel as far south as Grenada, crossing many nations’ borders. This shows the importance of protecting the species not only in our waters, but region wide. Seeing male and female tiger sharks together of different life stages, shows us that protection of these species in our water is vital since we may be protecting the future generation of tiger sharks in the region. A decrease in the number of sharks can affect the overall fish stocks which leads to a disturbed natural balance in the sea. Saba, for example, highly depends on fisheries and dive tourism as part of the local economy which also relies on a healthy fish stocks. Thus, understanding the role of these apex predators is extremely important”.

After gazetting, the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary will encompass the exclusive economic zone waters of the Saba Bank along with Saba, Bonaire and Statia. This sanctuary has the intention to provide a safe place for these animals, but without supportive data and knowledge, it is difficult to ensure they receive the appropriate protection measures. In order to survive, tiger sharks may use the Saba Bank as a key habitat for different stages of their life cycle but are known to travel to other regions during different life stages, making them a transboundary species. This expedition will help identify where larger, multi-national marine protected areas across the Caribbean should be to protect these species during their whole life cycle.

About Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) is a non-profit organization created to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable management of natural resources on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. DCNA was created to help consolidate knowledge and help bridge funding gaps for conservation within the Dutch Caribbean.

For more information on the Pregnant Tiger Shark Expedition, check DCNA’s Facebook, Instagram or DCNA’s website (https://dcnanature.org/news/) or contact projects@dcnanature.org

Photo credit © Daniel Norwood (all rights reserved)

Photo credit © Daniel Norwood (all rights reserved)

 

Articles published in BioNews 46  and Special Edition BioNews: Tiger Shark Expedition

Date
2021
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Saba
Saba bank
Author

Recommendations for avoiding collisions with humpback whales in the Dutch Caribbean

A new study from the Aeres University of Applied Sciences combined expert knowledge and an analysis of historical data concerning whale ship strikes.  The goal was to provide a list of recommendations to avoid future collisions. As boat traffic within the Caribbean continues to increase, finding ways to minimize the fatal impacts will be vital for protecting these species in the future.

Humpback whale. Photo credit: Todd Cravens

Whales play a critical role in the ocean ecosystems.  They occupy all of the world’s oceans (from coastal areas to deep sea) and serve as an indicator of overall ocean health.  Whales help preserve healthy fish stock by eliminating weaker fish, serve as a food source for sharks and other whales and lastly provide a wealth of nutrition to the seafloor when their carcasses sink and decompose.  In this way, whales act as a pump, recirculating nutrients throughout the ocean.

Ship Strikes

There are more than twenty different species of marine mammals found throughout the Dutch Caribbean. Overall, impact between whales and ships within these waters is probably low, however poor tracking and limited information has made it difficult to fully grasp this issue.  There is one recorded incident, from 2000, where Bonaire’s harbor master reported a Bryde’s whale pinned to the front of an incoming ship’s bow.  The ship’s crew was unaware until notified by the harbor master.

Boat traffic in the Caribbean is significant.  Heavy commercial traffic along with one third of all of the world’s cruise boat tourists puts migrating humpback whales at risk for collision.  Four students, Laetitia Geraets, Nehis Osagie, Tamara Raven and Angélica Verschragen, from the Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Almere, Netherlands are looking to shed light on the problem of ship strikes with humpback whales. The goal of the study was to examine past collision reports to offer insight into ways to reduce or prevent ship strikes in the future.

Results

Humpback whale. Photo credit: Mike Doherty

They discovered that an average of thirty whales are killed each year due to ship collisions, which has nearly doubled when compared to five years ago.  This is predominately due to a significant overlap of whale migration routes and shipping lanes, high speeds of vessels and the fact that lactating whales spend more time at shallow depths making them vulnerable to collision (particularly within calving grounds such as near the windward Dutch Caribbean islands).

They suggest developing and implementing a reporting system with the coast guard, while simultaneously establishing speed limits within Dutch waters and temporary precautionary zones around areas with recent whale sightings. Ultimately, they propose the use of an app which will allow individuals to report sightings and also provide timely recommendations to captains.  To ensure participation, they suggest a label be given to vessels which are compliant with all the rules and who actively use the app.  This label would help promote mindfulness along important whale migration areas.

Through an increased awareness and the creation of safe spaces such as the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary, we can all work together to protect these vital species in the future. You can help contribute to our overall understanding of these species by reporting any sightings on Observation.org and by supporting and encouraging whale safe practices.

 

https://www.dcbd.nl/document/humpback-whales-and-shipping-collisions-dut...

 

 

Article published in BioNews 44

Date
2021
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author