[Coral-List] New MPA in the Caribbean: St. Maarten's Man of War Shoal Marine Park

tadzio Bervoets tadziob at gmail.com
Sun Jan 2 14:20:45 EST 2011


Dear All,



Firstly best wishes for 2011, may it be an excellent year for everyone.



It is with great pleasure that the St. Maarten Nature Foundation announces
the approval by the Honourable Minister Franklin Myers of the Man of War
Shoal Marine Park, the first National Environmentally Protected Area for
Country St. Maarten and a major step towards realizing Environmental
Conservation in General and Marine Conservation more specifically for the
island.



For more information please see the release below. Please feel free to
distribute.



Best Regards,



Tadzio Bervoets



Manager

Nature Foundation St Maarten

P.O. Box 863
Philipsburg
St. Maarten
Dutch West Indies
Tel:  (599) 544-4267
Fax: (599) 544-4268
manager at naturefoundationsxm.org
www.naturefoundationsxm.org





*St. Maarten’s “Man of War Shoal Marine Park” Established*

On December 30th the Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs the Honorable
Mr. Franklin Myers signed a major step towards marine environmental
protection for the country St Maarten when he approved the establishment of
the Man of War Shoal Marine Park.

The boundaries of the Marine Park are between 18̊ ̊N and 17 ̊-57.0 N and 63
̊-01.03 W and 63 ̊-04.05 W, in an area better known as “the Proselyte Reef
Complex ".  This area includes the island’s most ecologically and economical
important marine habitat, including extensive coral reef areas and seagrass
beds. This area was chosen to be a priority for official conservation
because of its intrinsic ecological, economic and cultural value. The Man of
War Shoal Marine Park is a home and migratory stop over or breeding site for
3 IUCN Red List Species, 10 CITES Appendix I species and 89 Appendix II
species. It is an area with a relatively healthy population of marine
mammals including migratory whales and dolphins, numerous species of shark,
sea turtles and numerous fish species. Studies conducted by the St. Maarten
Nature Foundation have shown that biodiversity in this area, particularly
coral reef density, is high and the economic goods and services which the
ecosystem provides are in excess of fifty million dollars annually. The
establishing of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park is also in accordance with
the Specially Protected Areas of Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol and with the
Federal Decree on Maritime Management.

Previous plans to develop a Marine Park for St. Maarten were too complex by
design which led to discontent with various stakeholders, especially
fishermen who saw their traditional fishing grounds being encroached upon.
The draft ordinance also clashed with the Minister’s responsibilities for
ensuring safe waterways and anchorages.  Through various consultations and
meetings between the various stakeholders it was decided to implement Marine
Conservation on St. Maarten in stages, of which the establishment of the Man
of War Shoal Marine Park is the first and most important step.

“We have been working very hard for very long to realize Marine
Environmental Protection for St. Maarten, and now, with the hard work and
guidance of especially Mr. Mike Stamm of the Department of Civil Aviation,
Shipping and Maritime Affairs and through the appointment of the Honorable
Minister Myers, Country St. Maarten has its first National Park, a protected
area which will not only seek to protect natural marine habitat but which
will also enhance St. Maarten as an environmentally sustainable tourism
product”, commented Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager Tadzio Bervoets.

The biodiversity of St. Maarten waters has been steadily degrading over the
last four decades. The “eleventh hour” so to speak, has come and gone. The
man of War Shoal Marine Park also has significant economic importance as
diving in Marine Parks is globally on the rise and generally accepted by the
diving tourist as a “must do” vacation activity. With proper protection and
management in place the establishing of a Marine Protected Area will
increase the St. Maarten Tourism Product. Local fisheries will also be
enhanced through environmental protection. Research has shown that Marine
Protected Areas increase fish populations and fish size of commercial
species in nearby fishing grounds.

As mentioned the Man of War Shoal Marine Park also includes Proselyte Reef,
which was named after the HMS Proselyte, a 32 gun frigate which struck the
“man of War Shoal” on September 4th 1801. Artifacts such as large anchors,
cannons, barrel hoops, cannon balls, and pottery are still evident on this
popular St. Maarten Dive site.  The site is also considered a Marine
Archeological treasure.

Efforts to establish a Marine Protected area for St. Maarten were started by
the Nature Foundation upon its founding in 1997. After a considerable length
of time during which numerous stakeholder consultations, meetings and
deliberations were held this important first step has been taken by the
government of new country St. Maarten. The Nature Foundation would like to
acknowledge the help and support of the Honorable Minister Franklin Myers,
Mr. Miguel de Weever, Mr. Lou Halley, Mr. Mike Stamm, Mr. Eddy Johnson, the
VROMI Department, Ms. Olivia Lake, the late Mr. Joseph Vliegen, the late
Mrs. Marjolijn Richardson, Andy Caballero, Paul Ellinger, Beverly Nisbeth,
Robbie Cijntje, current Board Members and of course the dedicated staff of
the St. Maarten Nature Foundation. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
(DCNA) has been a continuous source of support and a resourceful partner of
the St. Maarten Nature Foundation and has contributed greatly towards the
realization of Nature Conservation in general and Marine Conservation more
specifically for the island.  In the coming weeks the St. Maarten Nature
Foundation will launch a broad based information campaign explaining to the
citizens of St. Maarten about their newly established Man of War Shoal
Marine Park.








Manager

Nature Foundation St Maarten

P.O. Box 863
Philipsburg
St. Maarten
Dutch West Indies
Tel:  (599) 544-4267
Fax: (599) 544-4268
manager at naturefoundationsxm.org
www.naturefoundationsxm.org


-- 
Tadzio Bervoets
Manager
St. Maarten Nature Foundation
Cole Bay
St. Maarten
Netherlands Antilles
(+)5995270490



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