Author: Leslie Hickerson

 

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten is now accepting applications from local youth, ages 12 to 14, who would like to participate in their Junior Ranger Program and would like to learn Scuba Diving. The Nature Foundation St. Maarten recently received notice that they will obtain a contribution from the ‘Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied’ for their new ‘Save St. Maarten Corals’ projects. As part of the ‘Save St. Maarten corals’ project and the Junior Ranger program four students will be able to learn scuba diving with the Nature Foundation and obtain their PADI Junior Open Water Diver Course from a local dive shop.

The Open Water course is an entry level dive course and a life-time certification to scuba dive. Becoming Open Water Certified will give the students the opportunity to experience the coral reefs of St. Maarten for themselves. Medical restrictions can apply and students need to be fit for scuba diving, the cost of the course is completely covered by funding from this contribution.

“Having this course sponsored for our students is a truly amazing opportunity provided by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds,” says Educational Outreach Officer Leslie Hickerson, “We are very excited for this year’s activities for the Junior Rangers. These students will get to learn about many aspects of conservation and preservation, and be able to experience St. Maarten’s marine environment first-hand while learning to scuba dive.”

Those selected for the program will participate in monthly meetings where they will learn about various aspects of protecting St. Maarten’s environment, each followed by a practical application. Topics will include plastic pollution, coral reefs, local plants and animals, public speaking and presentation skills.

“We want to make sure that the information the students are learning will be applicable for their future no matter what they pursue. Giving them the chance to work on presentation and research skills as well as in-depth knowledge about our natural environment will give them an advantage moving forward,” says Hickerson.

The Junior Ranger Program is committed to providing comprehensive education opportunities that can be applied both in further education and in the workforce. Not only will students learn about the natural environment, they will also be given the chance to collaborate on the Nature Foundation website and its publications. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to their community by participating in clean-ups, giving presentations about conservation topics and acting as conservation advocates in their communities.

To receive an application form and the entry conditions, please send an email to education@naturefoundationsxm.org. The application deadline has been extended to August 1, 2020.

Jr_Rangers_2020 Flyer20191019_120032

Recently the Nature Foundation St. Maarten provided advice to the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila N.L. de Weever and the Minister of Public Housing, Physical Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J. Doran, regarding the negative impacts of marine mammal captivity and the negative impact to our environment and tourism of such activity on St. Maarten. The Foundation requested the above mentioned ministers to NOT issue permits for any marine mammal captivity or permits of construction or lease of water rights which could lead to marine mammal captivity, in case such permits are requested now or in the future.

The Foundation also officially requested the minister of VROMI to view the current documentation and any advice given for the possible long-term lease of water rights near Alegria Hotel (or Morgan Resort Spa and Village). Recently, the Foundation received rumours for the possibility of a dolphin activity near Alegria Hotel after water rights will be given and a breakwater is being built. “We have been consulted twice by the government in the past two years, to provide advice regarding the building of a jetty and breakwater in the mentioned area, twice negative advice has been submitted which included serious concerns. Beside the unknown and possible negative impacts on ocean currents, wave interaction and sand deposit along the coastline and Maho beach, the build of a breakwater/jetty would put both native seagrass species and protected corals at risk of being destroyed’ mentioned Nature Foundation’s Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

According to SPAW Annex ll and the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten Articles 16 and 17 legislation it is illegal to kill, wound, capture or pick up mentioned stony corals. It is also illegal to directly or indirectly disturb their environment resulting in a physical threat or damage, or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the coral animals. Stony corals are reef builders, they have an important role in keeping our waters clean, protect us from storms and swells, provide a habitat for many fish species and attract tourists from all around the world.

“The Nature Foundation is very against any marine mammal captivity or similar activity as the effects of allowing a marine captivity institution to be built on St. Maarten are far reaching both ethically and environmentally. Everywhere around the world such facilities are being closed and heavily protested, Canada prohibited the captivity of marine mammals in 2019 an example St. Maarten should follow” continued Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

The ethical dilemma surrounding a dolphnarium focuses on the severely restricted living spaces the animals are confined to and the inhumane treatment they are often subjected to. Dolphins in the wild swim up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per day, regularly dive up to 46 meters (150 feet) and can reach max depths of 300 meters (nearly 1000 feet). Confining this species to a shallow enclosure for their entire lives is cruel and can have serious physical and psychological effects on these intelligent animals. In addition, the dolphins that are captured or bred to live in these dolphinariums are also subjected to food deprivation, disguised as operant conditioning, for training to preform tricks that are often dangerous for the animal. Dolphins do not only harm each other due to the psychological effects of their treatment, there are also instances in which they harm the humans visiting them as well. The most recent recorded attack was of a 10-year-old girl who was bit and dragged underwater at a dolphin park in Cancun, Mexico. The anti-dolphinarium movement has swept the globe due to these ethically questionable practices, several organizations fight against these institutions which are being shut down all over the world. St. Maarten cannot afford the controversy of allowing such a business to establish on our island in this period of regrowth for our tourism industry.

Additionally, due to the restricted living space of the dolphins, fecal matter coming from the pens will increase the nutrient load in nearshore environments and can result in harmful algal blooms, skin irritation and ear infections of swimmers in the area. Algae blooms will significantly affect our coral reefs, as these algae will overgrow the already threatened and disappearing vulnerable coral ecosystems. As a Caribbean tourist island, we depend on our corals as it causes storm protection, clear waters, healthy fish stocks and attracts millions of tourists.

The Nature Foundation awaits the requested information from the Department of VROMI concerning the water-rights and hopes the provided advice to the ministers is being heard in order to choose for a sustainable and environmentally friendly St. Maarten.

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten received a call to report a dead Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi) tangled in a net within the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area in the beginning of July. The foundation crew was able to locate the shark on one of the dive sites and retrieve the body. After bringing the shark to the surface the staff was able to untangle the net and take the measurements of the animal and then give it a proper burial at sea.

Later that week a Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) was also spotted beached on Cupecoy Beach. This was a unique experience as the Sandbar species is a very rare shark to be spotted in this area, and this is the first time in the foundation recording that one was found on St. Maarten. A large thanks goes to a helpful resident which assisted the shark to find its way back to the ocean and understood that sharks are not to be irrational feared.

While these two events are not related, they do highlight the need for shark protection on St. Maarten and the surrounding islands. Sharks are vital to the health of the marine ecosystem and as such have been legally protected on the island since 2011.

“Sharks play an important role in the health of our marine ecosystem which leads to greater biodiversity, healthier fish stocks and a stronger reef system. The coral reef protects us from storm surge during hurricanes, helps keep our water clean and clear and draws in tourists to sustain us financially. Defending the reef and the marine life that lives there is vital for the future of St. Maarten,” says Leslie Hickerson Educational Outreach Officer for the Nature Foundation.

The Caribbean Reef Shark that was entangled in the net in the marine park had started to decompose and could have been in the net for several days. While it is uncertain what caused the shark to end up in this condition there are two probable causes. Either the shark was caught in a net deployed by fishermen who then decided to abandon the net causing the shark to drown, or the shark became entwined in a drifting net that had been discarded or lost at sea often called a ‘ghost net’.

Ghost nets are part of the ongoing problem of marine debris and human impact. One of the largest contributors to ocean pollution, a 2018 study showed that ghost nets make up almost 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. In addition to ghost nets other debris can cause injury or fatality to marine animals. In December of 2019, the Nature Foundation found a sea turtle in Great Bay that swam into an old chair and subsequently drowned. It is important that we dispose of our garbage properly so that it does not end up in the ocean as marine debris. Boaters or divers who spot debris in the water are also asked to collect all garbage they find in the waters around the island, to prevent further harm to marine life.

It is unclear how the Sandbar Shark in Cupecoy ended up beached. While it can be a sign of distress, injury or confusion this does occur from time to time. While the shark spent some time caught in the waves on the sand a resident intervened to assist the shark back into the water.

“We were so happy to see that a local resident stepped in to help this animal in distress. It shows that the people of St. Maarten can see that there is nothing to be feared from sharks, especially in this situation where the animal is suffering and needs help. We hope that more people are inspired by the work of this good samaritan and help us to take steps in protecting the natural environment of St. Maarten and stop the irrational fear of sharks,” says Nature Foundation Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

Residents are asked to report such incidents to the Nature Foundation which monitors and records these events to track potential changes in the environment of St. Maarten. If you ever need assistance or advise on how to deal with an animal on the island you can also contact the foundation via facebook or by email at info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

To spread awareness about the negative impacts, both ethically and environmentally, that can result from marine mammal captivity the Nature Foundation St. Maarten would like to make the public aware of these serious negative impacts regarding these establishments and the effect on the environment and tourism. Dolphins in the wild swim up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per day, regularly dive up to 46 meters (150 feet) and can reach max depths of 300 meters (nearly 1000 feet). Confining this species to a shallow enclosure for their entire lives is cruel and can have serious physical and psychological effects to the animals.

Dolphins are highly social and intelligent creatures that live in groups called pods working together to hunt, play and raise their young. Dolphins have been known to show empathy, grief, problem-solving, teaching skills and many more traits similar to that of humans.

Enclosed in small spaces and trained with food deprivation dolphins are forced to preform tricks that can be hazardous for their health and live in constant stress due to forced physical interaction with humans. While wild dolphins will spend their lives with family members and social groups, those in captivity often behave aggressively towards one another due to the limited and restricting lives they lead. They can also become aggressive towards the visitors to the attraction with the most recent recorded attack in November, 2019 of a 10-year-old in Cancun, Mexico.

In addition to the lack of space to roam and explore, when living in tight quarters dolphins cannot escape things that would be avoidable in the open ocean. None-stimulating environments coupled with damaging chemical, physical and noise pollutions result in a very low quality of life for dolphins in captivity. Tricks like ‘beaching’ are unnatural and can cause damage if done for extended periods, as can tricks that involve pushing or pulling humans with their beaks (noses). Forced to preform for their food dolphins may give the illusion of being happy, but after the visitors leave many are seen floating unmoving and lifeless in pens with their fellow captives.

Aside from the negative treatment of the dolphins, these dolphinariums can have several negative environmental effects. Building a dolphin enclosure on the existing shore line can damage and destroy coral or native sea grass in the area. In addition, large amounts of sediment will enter the water along with potential building materials, debris and chemicals. As the dolphins will remain in these enclosures at all times their waste will be concentrated to the area, which will lead to an increase in algae blooms due to the excess of waste nutrients.  Algae blooms will significantly affect our coral reefs, as these algae will overgrow the already threatened and disappearing vulnerable coral ecosystems. As a Caribbean tourist island we depend on our corals as it causes storm protection, clear waters, healthy fish stocks and attracts millions of tourists.

In addition to the environmental impacts the controversy surrounding such institutions is abundant, something that St. Maarten cannot afford in this period of re-growth and damaged the image of our island. All around the globe dolphinariums and dolphin entertainment parks are being shut down and emptied due to the moral and ethical issues surrounding them. Protests and boycotts of such establishments are on the rise. In several areas around the world legislation is being introduced to ban the captivity of marine mammals for breeding and entertainment purposes.

For those that would like to learn more about dolphins the Nature Foundation recommends you visit our website, “https://naturefoundationsxm.org/portfolio/bottlenose-dolphin/” which has information and several educational resources. We are lucky to be able to spot wild bottlenose dolphins throughout the year in the waters of St. Maarten/Martin. While these sightings are rare, at least these dolphins are in their natural habitat. Where they should remain.

Small pod of bottlenose dolphins just outside of Simpson Bay. Still capture from video by Ray-Angle Boasman.

St. Maarten students from the ages of 12 to 14 are being invited to apply to become Junior Rangers for the Nature Foundation St. Maarten. These students will learn about several topics and skills regarding conservation from the foundation staff during planned monthly activities.

Educating the youth of St. Maarten about the importance of preserving and safeguarding our environment is essential to make long-lasting change and therefore is a key pillar for the Nature Foundation.

“We believe that if educated and inspired the future generations will be able to make better choices regarding species protection, waste management and environmental impact for the island. While St. Maarten relies on its natural environment to attract tourists providing protection to its resources is not a priority for many. Providing the youth with education and awareness about the importance of conservation will lead to sustainable, long-term change,” said Educational Outreach Officer Leslie Hickerson.

Junior Ranger programs are common throughout the Caribbean and around the world. These programs are often the stepping stones for local students to be introduced to the world of conservation while providing practical experiences and skill sets that can be applied in other areas of life.

Those that are selected to become Junior Rangers will be expected to attend monthly activities with the Nature Foundation from August 2020 until February 2021. During these meetings students will take part in a learning-based section followed by a corresponding practical experience. Some of these might include; a Reef Fish Identification course followed by a snorkel trip to see local marine life, a discussion about the effects of plastic pollution along with a beach clean-up, boat safety and skills work or opportunities to present conservation topics to their fellow rangers and contribute to the Nature Foundation Website or publications.

Junior Rangers will also be expected to be conservation ambassadors in their communities. As such students must conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner and use environmentally friendly practices when possible.

Those wishing to take part in the program will need to fill out a short application and include an essay about why they want to be a Junior Ranger. Students must meet the following requirements to apply: Students must live on the Dutch side of the island and be between the ages of 12 – 14. They must hold a swimming certificate or be a strong swimmer and also must have written permission from their parent or guardian to snorkel and swim. In addition, they need to be able to attend the monthly activities held by the foundation.

The application can be found on The Nature Foundation’s website at: naturefoundationsxm.org/juniorrangers. Once completed it can be submitted to education@naturefoundationsxm.org. Submissions are due by the 15th July 2020 applicants will be informed by August 1, 2020 if they have been selected.

Photo caption: Nature Foundation Junior Rangers and their leader from 2019.

The Nature Foundation St Maarten was informed about a massive amount of littering which took place at Mullet Bay Beach over the weekend. The trash contained many different types of single-use plastics including Styrofoam, beer bottles, cans, boxes and much more. Also, car tracks on the beach were found, driving over the beach could cause serious damage to sea turtle nests, with very high likeliness of total nest destruction due to parking and driving on the beach. Considering the lack of tourists on the island, it is clear that residents of St. Maarten should take the responsibilities and accountability for this mess left behind and learn to clean-up what they bring.

“Education and responsibility need to be taken up by our residents, leaving this mess behind clearly shows the lack of awareness and responsibility for our environment by certain residents. Everyone should understand that they seriously harm our ecosystem by littering, causing a horrible scene and damages our island image. Noticing the large amount of plastics on the beach, a ban on single-use plastics is very much needed in St Maarten and all businesses should move to reusable and biodegradable alternatives instead. People need to dispose of their trash responsibly, which means in a trash bin and not on the beach, in the environment or on public roads. Wind and rain can cause a significant amount of these plastic straws, cups and trash to end up in our ocean and environment. Therefore, we are asking all residents to dispose of their trash properly and if bins are overfull take your trash to another bin or container” stated Nature Foundation Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

Beach driving causes serious harm to our sea turtle population, their beach habitat and survival are severely threatened on St. Maarten, especially previous year caused a high mortality rate among the species due to beach driving, destruction and trash.

“Last year we reported on several dead sea turtles, whereby even two sea turtles died in our trash and hatching sea turtles were hampered reaching the ocean due to beach litter. Frequent beach driving activities cause sea turtle eggs to crush and beach construction leaves no room for sea turtles to nest. Verified sea turtle nests appear to be scarce the past years and the hatch success of our nests seem to be very low, indicating disturbances on the beach such as beach driving or habitat destruction. We are seriously concerned about the survival chances of our sea turtle population and urge to increase and enforce the protection level of our precious beaches” continued Meijer zu Schlochtern.

St Maarten uses a remarkably high amount of single-use plastics every day, as plastic bags are given for free for every purchased item and plastic straws with any drink. Also, takeout food in Styrofoam is standard and very popular, which also includes the use of plastic cutlery. The Nature Foundation calculated that Dutch St Maarten alone uses more than 1.4 billion plastic straws a year; straws are used for a few minutes and last forever in the local environment. These single-use plastics are some of the most environmentally damaging products on the island. These items do not biodegrade and stay in the ecosystem and oceans forever, causing impacts to the environment, animals and humans. Plastic releases harmful chemicals when it breaks down into smaller pieces that are ingested by marine life and eventually humans, new research even shows greenhouse gas production when plastic breaks down.

Photo Caption: Massive amounts of single-use plastics, trash, beer bottles and boxes were left on Mullet Bay Beach by local visitors over the weekend, pictures taken by Annee Blaum.

On World Oceans Day, an international day that takes place annually on the 8th of June, the Nature Foundation presented the Foundation’s first edition of the Eco-Bracelet to the Minister of VROMI Egbert J. Doran. Wearing the Nature Foundation Eco-bracelet identifies you as an eco-warrior and symbolizes your commitment to a clean and sustainable St. Maarten. As an island nation, we depend on the health of our ocean and more than ever we need to protect these resources to secure survivability for the future.

Nature Foundation’s Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern presented the Foundation’s Eco-Bracelet along with a plastic free and reef safe sunscreen ‘Raw Elements’ to the VROMI Minster on Monday in order to celebrate the importance of our ocean and marine life and to enhance and sustain the protection of our coral reefs. “In order to ensure coral reefs and marine life in the future, it is crucial to protect and conserve their habitats right now. Our coral reefs are highly threatened due to pollution, wastewater and nutrient input, diseases, hurricanes and rising ocean temperatures and on top also by chemical sunscreens. It is time that we panic about the health of our reefs, as coral reefs are of great importance to our tourist industry, the health of our fish stocks, sandy beaches, clarity of our waters and the protection from storms”.

For 2020, World Oceans Day is growing the global movement to call on world leaders to protect

30% of the world’s ocean by 2030 – a campaign called 30×30. By safeguarding at least 30% of

our ocean through a network of highly protected areas we can help ensure a healthy home for

both marine and human life. “Also in St. Maarten increased protection of our ocean is need, as daily plastics, trash, pollutants, chemical sunscreen and wastewater ends up in our ocean impacting and killing coral reefs, sea grass beds and marine life. By presenting the Eco-Bracelet to the Minister on this specific World Ocean day, we symbolize the importance of protecting and enhancing our nature, especially the ocean. We hope an increase of people will understand the importance of our ocean by decreasing pollution and committing to assist in protecting our ocean. Your first step can be wearing the Eco-Bracelet with proud as every bracelet purchased supports protecting and enhancing Sint Maarten’s natural environment, specifically the ocean” explained Meijer zu Schlochtern.

The Eco-bracelet is made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric, which is the primary material used for the production of water bottles around the world. Billions of PET bottles are discarded each year and a significant amount of them become littered in the natural environment, representing one of the biggest waste problems on Earth. The first edition of the St. Maarten Eco-bracelet displays the text “Nature is our Future SXM”, which is the slogan of the Nature Foundation, along with an outline of our beloved island. Each Eco-Bracelet includes a flyer explaining what it means to wear the bracelet, how you can continue to support the Nature Foundation and a map of Sint Maarten’s Marine Protected Area and dive sites. 

Eco-bracelets can be ordered now on the Nature Foundation’s website; www.naturefoundationsxm.org, for a contributing donation of $10 one eco-bracelet will be provided, which directly supports the protection and enhancement of St. Maarten’s natural environment. To increase nature awareness among tourism, the assistance of the business sector is essential, therefore the Nature Foundation offers a retail option for businesses to reach the visitors of our island. Bracelet displays made from up-cycled materials by the Waste Factory will be provide for free by a retail order of 20 or more, for more information businesses interested in retail can contact info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

A number of studies have shown that sunscreen and certain individual components of sunscreen can have negative effects on corals and other marine organisms. For example, the chemical UV filters oxybenzone and octinoxate have been studied most intensively and negative effects have been described such as bleaching of corals, damage and deformation of coral larvae and damage to the DNA of corals and their reproductive success. The Nature Foundation recommends to use natural and mineral based sunscreens with “non-nanotized” zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (“non-nanotized” means the ingredients are 100 nanometers in diameter or more) such as the brands Raw Elements and Raw Love, which are already available on the island, as these are save for our coral reefs, environment and human skin.

Due to the generous support of Yacht Club Port de Plaisance, the Nature Foundation St. Maarten received an additional staff member in March to assist in the Foundation’s daily activities and strengthen the outreach and educational programs. The new educational outreach position will be filled by Leslie Hickerson, a resident of St. Maarten with a background in Sustainable Tourism and scuba diving. The primary function of the position will be to spread outreach and education about the local environment and nature, it’s importance and the role of the Nature Foundation.

“We are extremely grateful for the received support of Port de Plaisance Marina as the additional capacity is very needed within the Nature Foundation. With our newest staff member, we will be able to increase environmental knowledge and awareness about our natural habitats among the youth and residents of the island. In order to protect and secure the natural environment of St Maarten for the generations to come, education and awareness are crucial components. People will protect and preserve what they love and care about, therefore we are grateful to be able to increase the nature awareness on the island with the help of Port de Plaisance Marina” stated Nature Foundation’s Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

The one-year position would not be possible without the generous support of Yacht Club Port de Plaisance who has always been an active partner with the Foundation.

“The Yacht Club Port De Plaisance Operated by Marine Management & Consulting NV has always valued the hard and valuable work the Nature Foundation does for the environment and eco systems on our Island. It goes without saying that our ecosystems and environment is our number one source and why our clients continue to visit our beautiful island and come to our shores. The Yacht Club Port De Plaisance goals and mission is to preserve and maintain our nature as best as possible and we do our best to advocate the same to our clients and visitors. We understand our business in tourism and yachting can have its challenges against nature preservation, but without proper educational outreach and programs, we will not be able to protect what we all value and enjoy most, our nature!” said Jesse Peterson, Operations Director of Yacht Club Port De Plaisance and MMC Group of companies.

Through school visits, awareness events, press and social media releases Hickerson’s goal will be to educate students and residents about the local environment and environmental issues on St. Maarten. The Foundation is very delighted to have Ms. Hickerson as part of the team with her background and experience working on St. Maarten. As a dive instructor working on the island Hickerson has extensive knowledge of the marine park and environment and has participated in several of the Nature Foundation’s events as a volunteer.

“I am so excited to join the Nature Foundation team as the Educational Outreach Officer. After years of working in the tourism industry in St. Maarten I have been able to see the decline in the health of our marine environment firsthand. I think the most successful long-term solution to protect our environment is to focus on educating our youth and inspiring them to change how they view our resources and sustainability,” said Hickerson. Some of the projects Hickerson will oversee as the Educational Outreach Officer are the upcoming Student Competition; Protecting St. Maarten’s Coral Reefs, the Junior Ranger Program, and this year’s Coral Reef Education Project.

At the end of 2019 several supporters of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten came together in order to discuss sustainable finance options for the Foundation.  During the meeting, the director of Yacht Club Port de Plaisance Sint Maarten generously offered to assist in increasing capacity for the Foundation and support environmental education on the island. The Nature Foundation would like to thank the Yacht Club for their extensive and continuous support.

 

Recently, the Nature Foundation has received an increase in reports about illegal fishing from shore where there has been an increase in illegal speargun use, immature lobsters are targeted and protected species are caught, such as sharks and rays. The Foundation would like to remind residents and visitors to adhere to the fishing regulations, which, are implemented in order to ensure vital species will survive in our waters. Fishing regulations are internationally applied and extensively researched, all to prevent overfishing and the extinction of species. Without fish, lobster and sharks our coral reefs cannot thrive and coral reef destruction will lead to a serious decline in tourism, our health, storm protection and clear beaches and waters.

“Fishing regulations are not implemented to annoy fishermen or to make their lives difficult, fishing regulations are crucial for the survival of our fish stock and the survival of key marine species in order to prevent extinction and to prevent a collapse of our marine ecosystem and coral reefs. If you catch immature fish and lobster, you are the cause that we will not have these species in the following years, as the immature individuals you caught had no chance to reproduce and no baby fish and lobster will be born to be eaten in the future. Therefore, please adhere to the regulations in order to protect our marine life and safeguard their survival in our waters, providing fish for the future” explained the Nature Foundation Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

This week the Nature Foundation met with the Coast Guard to discuss the current concerns regarding illegal fishing with spearguns, the fishing on protected species and the catching of immature lobsters. The Coast Guard will pay additional attention to the fishing regulations and the Foundation will increase their patrols, especially from shore, in order to examine any violators and also to educate the community about the importance of these rules for the survival of the species, tourism, as a food source and for our ecosystem. 

On St. Maarten spearguns are listed as weapons and therefore to be in the possession of a speargun a yearly renewed license is needed, otherwise it is considered illegal.  In general, the fishing regulations describe the prohibition of catching, killing and/or landing of all shark and ray species, all marine mammals and all sea turtle species in the territorial sea and land of St. Maarten. To fish with gill nets (killer nets) and/or trawling nets is prohibited in all St. Maarten waters, also the use of fish traps with a mesh size of less than 1.5 inches or 38 mm is prohibited. Fishing with chemicals, explosive substances and bait consisting of meat from marine mammals is considered illegal.

There are also some regulations regarding the fishing on lobster (species Panulirus argus), which describe the prohibition of catching lobsters smaller than 25 cm in length, have a carapace length of less than 9.5cm and/or a total weight of less than 680g or a tall weight less than 200gram. It is prohibited to retain lobsters if they are at the moulting stage or carry eggs, it is also forbidden to remove eggs from egg-bearing lobsters.

It is forbidden to catch, kill, hold, dead or alive for sale or delivery, to offer for sale, to sell, to buy, to trade, to give as a gift, to deliver, transport, import or export, lobsters which are below the minimum size mentioned. It is forbidden to buy lobsters for the purpose of selling, trading, delivering, transporting, importing or exporting, without having a license, the model of which is determined by the minister.

Any type of fishing, including trolling/towing and hand lines, is prohibited in the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area, the Marine Park Area is indicated as a square on the attached map. For more information on fishing regulations or the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected area contact the Nature Foundation at info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

Photo caption: Caribbean Reef shark swimming in the no-fishing zone Man of War Shoal Marine Park with fishing hook above the eye. Photo credits Ocean Explorers Dive center. 

The Nature Foundation is forewarning the public about the increased amounts of Sargassum Seaweed on the Eastern beaches of St. Maarten. As we head into the summer months the temperature increases which causes the sargassum to bloom and large amounts are expected for this summer. This seaweed has been an increasing problem throughout the Caribbean since 2011 landing on beaches in massive amounts and decomposing slowly.

The forecast from the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab predicts that the eastern Caribbean will see large amounts of Sargassum in May to July 2020, as presently the Sargassum amount continued to increase across the central Atlantic. Some of the Lesser Antilles Islands will continue experience moderate to strong beaching events of sargassum on both their windward and leeward beaches. This situation may continue into summer, and the overall amount is likely to be similar to that in 2015. As large outbreaks of Sargussum occurred in the Caribbean in 2015 and 2018, this month’s predictions show a worrisome summer for Sargassum landings on St. Maarten.

Sargassum is a genus of brown (class Phaeophyceae) seaweed which is distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. Sargassum first plagued St. Maarten in 2011 and 2012, with the Foundation having to warn swimmers to avoid swimming on certain beaches due to the large amount of seaweed and many beach front residences and hotels having to continuously clean washed up Sargassum.

Along with causing a build-up of seaweed on the beaches that visitors and residents both enjoy visiting the decomposing sargassum can cause potential health problems by emitting a colorless, toxic and highly flammable gas called hydrogen sulfide. This gas spreads an unpleasant odor much like the smell of rotten eggs. Residents of areas that are or will be impacted are warned to take precautions to avoid the negative health effects.

“We are advising residents in especially Guana Bay and Point Blanche to keep windows and doors closed as much as possible,” says the Nature Foundation St. Maarten, “When the Sargassum lands and starts to decompose hydrogen sulfide gas is released. Inhaling the gas in small doses can trigger irritation of the eyes and the respiratory system, especially among people who are sensitive to it. The groups most at risk are people with respiratory problems, asthma patients, elderly people, babies and pregnant women. Certain animals, especially dogs, are also sensitive to the inhalation of hydrogen sulfide.”

While there is currently a great deal of research about what can be done with the excess Sargassum Seaweed it should be noted that doing so properly takes time and preparation. Any members of the community wishing to use the seaweed for fertilizer, for example, must diligently research the proper way to prepare the Sargassum to keep themselves, others in the area, and animals nearby safe.

Pictures taken by Chief Ranger Etienne Lake on Guana Bay, Gibbs Bay and Dawn Beach

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