Residents and visitors are invited to join “Shark and Ray Discovery Day,” a Shark Week 2026 community event dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of sharks and rays and highlighting the local efforts underway to protect these vital marine species.
The event is organized by the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten and will take place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Simpson Bay Fish Market. Shark and Ray Discovery Day brings together local conservation organizations, scientific researchers, local fishers, and community groups with an interest in safeguarding Sint Maarten’s marine environment.
A highlight of the day will be free lagoon boat tours departing every 30 minutes. These tours offer participants a unique perspective on the lagoon ecosystem and its connection to the island’s biodiversity. Safety regulations will apply, and as space on each tour is limited, advance registration is strongly encouraged via WhatsApp message at +1 (721) 581-6365 or email to info@naturefoundationsxm.org. Event activities are weather-dependent.
Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to visit educational booths, meet conservation professionals, learn about ongoing research and protection initiatives, and discover the important role sharks and rays play in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems.
Designed for all ages, the event will feature interactive activities, games, and opportunities to win prizes while learning about the fascinating species that inhabit Caribbean waters. Visitors are welcome to attend at any time during the event and explore the exhibits at their own pace.
“Sharks and rays are among the ocean’s most important species, helping to maintain balanced and healthy marine ecosystems,” said a representative of the Nature Foundation. “However, many populations around the world face increasing pressures from overfishing, habitat degradation, and other human activities.”
The organizers encourage families, students, residents, and visitors alike to attend and take part in this celebration of marine life and conservation during Shark Week.
The initiative is part of the MENAA (Marine Elasmobranch Nursery Area Advocacy) project at the Nature Foundation. MENAA seeks to form a foundation for the success of Sint Maarten’s marine and coastal area, particularly for sharks and rays. Research shows local waters serve as a nursery for species like tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and spotted eagle rays. These animals are crucial for reef health and fishery stability but remain threatened by poaching and ghost nets, despite local protections. Learn more at https://naturefoundationsxm.org/menaa.
MENAA is funded by BESTLIFE2030 (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas), a granting mechanism focusing on preserving and restoring biodiversity in the EU’s outermost regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), which host rich biodiversity but also face significant climate change threats.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Have you heard about our Shark and Ray Discovery Day?
🦈 Join us this Saturday, from 9 am to 2 pm, at the Simpson Bay Fish Market! There will be *free* lagoon boat tours, interactive games and prizes, and educational booths for all ages to enjoy.
💬 Pre-registration for the lagoon tour is highly advised, and activities are weather-dependent. Message us on WhatsApp +1 721 581-6365 to book your spot.
🎉 This is especially a time for celebration, as the Sint Maarten Insular Shelf was just designated an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) by the IUCN Species Survival Commission. This means that our local waters have internationally recognized as being critical for the survival of species ranging from tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and spotted eagle rays.
💙 Our incredible thanks to the ISRA applicants, Caribbean Shark Coalition @caribsharks and Shark Conservation Fund @sharkconservationfund, who helped push through this exciting nomination, and our booth participants and supporters - Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin @agrnsm, The Scuba Shop @thescubashopsxm, Friendly Island Divers @friendlyislanddivers, and collaborating vendors and fishers of the Simpson Bay Fish Market.
This initiative is part of the MENAA project, funded by IUCN Bestlife2030, which supports Sint Maarten`s marine areas as nurseries for sharks, rays, and other species crucial to reef health and fishery stability.
Learn more at the link in our bio.
We are seeking a motivated Invasive Species Monitoring Intern to support a technology-driven program focused on monitoring invasive mammal populations in Sint Maarten. This internship will utilize advanced survey methods, thermal drone technology, remote camera operations, and some spatial analysis to assess the distribution and abundance on invasive mammals on the island. The internship will run from August through December 2026.
Key responsibilities include:
✅ Conduct invasive mammal population surveys using thermal drone technology
✅ Deploying and retrieving remote camera traps at field survey sites.
✅ Data entry and analysis
✅ Habitat mapping using GIS
✅ Field work materials maintenance and upkeep
👀 We are seeking qualified candidates with experience in environmental management, invasive species management, ecological field surveys, or drone operations. Applicants must be fluent in English and hold a valid driver`s license. Experience operating drones, along with proficiency in drone software and flight planning applications, is considered a strong asset.
📩 To apply, send your CV and cover letter to info@naturefoundationsxm.org with the subject line: Application for Invasive Species Monitoring Internship.
Application deadline: July 25 2026
For more information, go to our website: https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about/work-with-us/
The Nature Foundation office will be closed on Wednesay, July 1, for Emancipation Day. Regular hours (8:00-16:00) will resume on Thursday, July 2.
The Turk`s head cactus (Melocactus intortus) faces growing pressure from three main threats:
🦋 Invasive moth — Cactoblastis cactorum, originally from South America, lays larvae on native cacti. When they hatch, they burrow into the plant`s tissue, injuring and sometimes killing it.
🏗️ Habitat loss — Melocacti grow on coastal slopes: prime development land. Most remaining wild populations are now concentrated in the Réserve Naturelle on the French side, and in unprotected areas like Fort Amsterdam and Guana Bay on the Dutch side.
🐐 Grazing animals — Feral donkeys, goats, and horses trample juvenile plants, degrade surrounding habitat, and sometimes may even eat the cactus directly.
These pressures are increasing. Active monitoring and management are now essential to this species` future on the island.
The Cactus MAP SXM project, funded by a SPAW-RAC small grant, is a collaboration between the NGOs Nature Foundation Sint Maarten and the management body of the Réserve Naturelle of Saint-Martin. It seeks to advance native flora conservation on both sides of the island of Saint Martin.
Le cactus tête à l’anglais (Melocactus intortus) fait face à des pressions croissantes :
🦋 Papillon envahissant — Cactoblastis cactorum, originaire d`Amérique du Sud, pond ses larves sur les cactus indigènes. À l`éclosion, elles s`enfouissent dans les tissus de la plante, provoquant des blessures et parfois la mort.
🏗️ Perte d`habitat — Les mélocactuss poussent sur les pentes côtières : des terres prisées pour la construction. La plupart des populations sauvages restantes sont concentrées dans la Réserve Naturelle côté français, et dans des zones non protégées comme Fort Amsterdam et Guana Bay côté néerlandais.
🐐 Animaux en liberté — Ânes, chèvres et chevaux divaguants piétinent les jeunes plants, dégradent l`habitat environnant et peuvent parfois manger le cactus directement.
Ces pressions s`intensifient. Un suivi et une gestion active sont désormais essentiels à l`avenir de cette espèce sur l`île.
#SintMaarten #SaintMartin
