#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
The Netherlands Antilles
Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius all have well managed Marine Parks that are protected
under island legislation. The Curaçao Marine Park, although established by island decree,
still lacks legal protection. A draft island marine ordinance is ready and waiting to be
passed by the island council. St. Maarten has no marine park (although one is planned),
and there is no monitoring. Park management on all islands has been delegated by the
respective island governments to local NGOs. National Park status for protected areas on
all islands is regulated by national legislation. Fishery on the Saba Bank is regulated by
the National Fishery Ordinance and the Saba Fishery Ordinance.
In 2000, the Netherlands Antilles Coral Reef Initiative (NACRI) was established to involve all
coral reef stakeholders, both government, non-government, private sector and fishermen in
coral reef conservation. NACRI is supported by the central government and aims to provide
support for MPAs, to promote public awareness and support for coral reef conservation, and
to stimulate monitoring and research. There is active management of the Bonaire Marine
Park in the Netherlands Antilles using visitor fees drawn from tourist divers. The same
success is not evident in Curaçao because there is a lack of legal protection.
Trinidad and Tobago
The only reef monitoring is through the Institute of Marine Affairs applying CARICOMP
methodology annually on the Buccoo Reef Complex. An NGO, the Buccoo Reef Trust plans
to build the Tobago Marine Research Centre as an international institution for research
and education on tropical reef ecosystems and sustainable aquaculture. Funding is being
sought from many sectors. There are major gaps in capacity and funding for effective
ecological and socio-economic monitoring
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORAL REEF CONSERVATION
The following recommendations were made in addition to those outlined in the 2000
report:
• To establish one common and transferable coral reef and fish monitoring
methodology and implement this at specified sites throughout the region;
• To establish a roving team of marine scientists from various Government
agencies to establish monitoring sites and conduct the first round of
monitoring while training local stakeholders (as proposed by CPACC);
• To establish a Reef Check roving team to train stakeholders in methodology and
data analysis throughout the Eastern Caribbean;
• To ensure that there are follow up visits and training until project monitoring
is demonstrably sustainable. It is envisaged that it will be necessary to
demonstrate the benefits derived from coral reef monitoring before
Governments in the region provide the necessary support.
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