Nature Foundation Conducts Annual Scientifically Assessments of the Islands Coral Reefs Using GCRMN Standards with Assistance of DCNA and Ocean Explorers

The Nature Foundation St Maarten once again scientifically monitored the state of the country’s coral reefs to determine coral reef changes over the years with the assistance of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and their director Tadzio Bervoets. Ocean Explorers Dive Center also generously provided assistance by lending their boat to the Nature Foundation … Continue reading Nature Foundation Conducts Annual Scientifically Assessments of the Islands Coral Reefs Using GCRMN Standards with Assistance of DCNA and Ocean Explorers

Nature Foundations Outplants New Coral Colonies in the Marine Park as Part of the Coral Restoration Project

Last week the Nature Foundation successfully outplanted several Acropora coral fragments on the dive site Coralita in the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area of St. Maarten. These coral fragments have been growing in the Nature Foundation’s coral nursery for several years, some of these fragments where even Hurricane Irma survivors and are now … Continue reading Nature Foundations Outplants New Coral Colonies in the Marine Park as Part of the Coral Restoration Project

Nature Foundation Discovers Dead Shark in the Marine Protected Area and Received Reports of the Beaching of an Unusual Shark Species

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 … Continue reading Nature Foundation Discovers Dead Shark in the Marine Protected Area and Received Reports of the Beaching of an Unusual Shark Species

Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Joins Expert Meeting to Tackle New Coral Disease

Key West, August 1, 2019 – Experts from around the Caribbean region are meeting at the Eco-Discovery Centre in Key West to share information on an emerging and unprecedented threat to Caribbean coral reefs posed by a coral disease first documented in Florida and now being reported at sites across the region. Since 2014, the Florida Reef … Continue reading Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Joins Expert Meeting to Tackle New Coral Disease

When visiting St Maarten dive site, don’t forget to buy your Marine Park Tag online!

reefsupport

In July 2018 the Nature Foundation launched a new online Marine Park Tag system; visitors can purchase St Maarten Marine Park Tags directly online via ReefSupport or via the Nature Foundation’s website https://naturefoundationsxm.org/. The Foundation would like to remind all scuba divers and marine park visitors that purchasing a Marine Park Tag is mandatory for … Continue reading When visiting St Maarten dive site, don’t forget to buy your Marine Park Tag online!

Hurricane Irma Wreck JabJabs Lives on as Artificial Reef Habitat

Former popular floating bar JabJabs has received a new lease on life as an artificial reef. JabJabs, which was a popular floating bar housed on the 85-foot steel sailing ship SV Nightingale, was sunk during Hurricane Irma and subsequently salvaged after being submerged for three months in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. After the vessel was … Continue reading Hurricane Irma Wreck JabJabs Lives on as Artificial Reef Habitat

St Maarten Nature Foundation First To Launch Online Marine Park Tag System

Since 1997, the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, together with other islands of the Dutch Caribbean, has been the worldwide example for charging an environmental user fee to users of the national "Man of War Shoal" Marine Park. However, the current dive tag system has issues keeping up with the demand. Production costs, administration, risk management, … Continue reading St Maarten Nature Foundation First To Launch Online Marine Park Tag System

Nature Foundation Closes Section of Dive Site Due to Danger of Collapse

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has announced that it has closed a section of one of the island’s most popular dive sites called the Carib Cargo, due to the risk it poses to divers visiting the site. “We have inspected a section of the Carib Cargo wreck at the stern of the ship by the … Continue reading Nature Foundation Closes Section of Dive Site Due to Danger of Collapse