The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten and the Ministry of Justice have launched the Protection through Biosecurity Project: A Strategic Initiative for Sint Maarten aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to prevent the introduction of invasive species, combat illegal wildlife trade, and improve the implementation of international biodiversity agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The project also seeks to strengthen coordination among key stakeholders involved in protecting Sint Maarten’s borders and natural environment.
“Invasive species and illegal wildlife trade are increasingly putting our marine life and local communities at risk. For me, protecting our borders also means protecting our natural environment from threats that can have lasting consequences for our island. This initiative reflects our commitment to protecting the very ecosystems and natural resources that we all depend on, ” said Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling.
Some of the most common species that are imported and exported from Sint Maarten that fall on the CITES lists include queen conch, caviar, and several bird species. The Convention covers more than 36,000 species worldwide making enforcement a difficult and specialized task. Small developed islands like Sint Maarten act as a hub for the region resulting in high volumes of imported goods and creating significant enforcement challenges for local officers.
“Biosecurity is about protecting Sint Maarten’s people, economy, and natural resources from risks that often go unnoticed until significant damage has already occurred. By strengthening CITES implementation and improving coordination between local and regional stakeholders, we are investing in a more resilient future for the island,” said the Nature Foundation’s Director, Leslie Hickerson.
A key element of this 18-month project will be the introduction of a dedicated Biosecurity Officer within the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten. This officer will work closely with local and regional enforcement agencies by providing technical support, coordinating training opportunities, and strengthening regional actions. Through this enhanced support, the project seeks to improve detection, prevention, and response efforts while building long-term capacity for biodiversity protection.
Protection through Biosecurity 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.
📰 PRESS RELEASE 📰
The Nature Foundation is supporting the advancement of sustainable fisheries on Sint Maarten through our ongoing fisher workshops, incentivized catch monitoring, and hands-on community collaboration. 🎣🌊
From equipping local fishers with safety equipment and catch measurement tools to building ocean literacy at the Simpson Bay Fish Market, we are working hand-in-hand with our fisheries sector to protect marine life and secure long-term livelihoods.
A sincere thank you to our fishers, vendors, and partners for their collaboration and engagement, and to the BESTLIFE2030 grant program for making this vital work possible.
Read more: https://naturefoundationsxm.org/news
Following the exciting news that the Sint Maarten Insular Shelf has been officially recognized as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), the official fact sheet is now available for public viewing! 💙
Why does this coastal area matter, and what’s ISRA, anyway?
🦈 ISRA is a prestigious scientific designation - not a legal regulation - that proclaims a particular area to be of high value to the conservation of sharks and rays. It does not establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA).
🦈 Extensive data has showed that Sint Maarten’s waters - including the Man of War Shoal Marine Park - provide essential shallow and shelf habitats vital for the survival, feeding, and breeding of sharks and rays.
🦈 Three primary species of conservation interest were identified: Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi), tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) and whitespotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari).
🦈 Identifying discrete habitats as ISRAs helps management authorities, marine scientists, and environmental policymakers target spatial protections where sharks and rays need them most.
🦈 As sharks and rays are already protected in Sint Maarten’s waters, this ISRA is an additional honor - legally, these species have been calling our waters a sanctuary since 2011.
🦈 The work behind this designation involved dozens of researchers, management authorities, funders, and supporters, including the Caribbean Shark Coalition and the Shark Conservation Fund.
Healthy shark and ray populations keep entire marine ecosystems in balance, and this great news indicates that are marine ecosystems are still resilient enough to support these creatures. 🐠🪸
Learn more at https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/sint-maarten-insular-shelf-isra/ or visit the link in our bio.
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This post was 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.
Time flies when you`re having fun in Sint Maarten`s iconic Man of War Shoal Marine Park... 🌊
Learn more about this regionally-designated marine area on our website at the link in our bio or at https://naturefoundationsxm.org/marine-park/.
Here, you`ll find information on:
🔵 How to register your vessel
🔵 Our local dive shop options
🔵 Official coordinates of the park
🔵 Biodiversity and archaeological value
And much more!
📸 : C. Bonnardel
🪸 The 2025 Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) 2025 report has just been published!
GCRMN brings together more than 21 million observations from over 36,000 reef sites worldwide to understand how coral reefs are changing.
🤿 At the Nature Foundation, we have been monitoring 7 coral reef sites inside and outside the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area since 2016, following the GCRMN monitoring protocol.
Long-term monitoring allows us to see how our local reefs are changing over time, understand the pressures affecting them, and evaluate whether conservation and management efforts are making a difference.
🏝 But what does the report say on Sint Maarten and the Easter Caribbean?
The results are concerning.
🪸 Hard coral cover in the Eastern Caribbean has declined from 15.0% to 7.6% when comparing the 1982–2009 reference period with 2020–2024.
🌿 At the same time, macroalgae increased from 7.6% to 18.0%. More algae can make it harder for young corals to establish and for damaged reefs to recover.
🌡 The ocean is getting warmer. Across the Caribbean, sea surface temperatures over coral reefs increased by about 1.03°C between 1985 and 2025. The region experienced particularly severe heat stress during the 2023–2024 phase of the fourth global coral bleaching event.
🌀 Hurricanes, coral diseases, pollution, coastal development and fishing pressures can add to the stress, making it harder for reefs to recover between major disturbances.
🫣 So, should we lose hope?
No!
The report also shows that coral reefs can recover when conditions allow enough time between disturbances. Reducing local pressures—such as pollution and sedimentation—can help reefs become more resilient and improve their ability to recover from heat stress.
💙 Here in Sint Maarten, this makes the work we do to protect our reefs, improve water quality, monitor changes and reduce local pressures more important than ever.
📰 PRESS RELEASE 📰
The Nature Foundation is supporting the advancement of sustainable fisheries on Sint Maarten through our ongoing fisher workshops, incentivized catch monitoring, and hands-on community collaboration. 🎣🌊
From equipping local fishers with safety equipment and catch measurement tools to building ocean literacy at the Simpson Bay Fish Market, we are working hand-in-hand with our fisheries sector to protect marine life and secure long-term livelihoods.
A sincere thank you to our fishers, vendors, and partners for their collaboration and engagement, and to the BESTLIFE2030 grant program for making this vital work possible.
Read more: naturefoundationsxm.org/news
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