The Daily Herald Wednesday, December 15, 1999
ST. EUSTATIUS An international team of
marine scientists stated that they were impressed with the vitality and health
of the corals they saw on the reefs of St. Maarten, Saba, Saba Bank and St.
Eustatius, Marine Park Manager of St. Eustatius Laurens Duiveman said Tuesday.
Duiveman pointed out that the scientists attribute this positive fact to the
relatively low coastal development which affects these reefs and the level of
protection that is afforded the reefs by current marine park regulations.
As many coral reefs throughout the Caribbean
are experiencing high levels of deterioration, the value of the reefs in this
area will become increasingly important as a source of fish, lobster, and coral
larvae to replenish reefs throughout the region, the scientists explained. The
international team arrived in St. Maarten on November 29 and spent over two
weeks surveying reefs on St. Maarten, Saba, Saba Bank, and St. Eustatius.
According to Duiveman, the assessment is part of the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid
Reef Assessment (AGRRA) initiative, a program aimed at evaluating reefs
throughout the Caribbean and the eastern Atlantic.
The AGRRA protocol is designed to assess
coral reef condition based on observations of coral mortality and size, algae
and fish abundance, size and diversity.A standardized technique is used which
allows regional comparision of coral reefs. The ultimate goal is to complete
sufficient reef assessments throughout the wider Caribbean to facilitate
regional comparisons by 2001. Similar surveys have been conducted within the
past year in the Bahamas, Florida Keys, Turks and Caicos, St. Vincent,
Venezuela, Bonaire, Honduras, Belize, the Caymans, and Mexico. The surveys will
provide baseline information on current trends in reef health as well as
identify coral reefs that require protection.
AGRRA researchers have worked closely with
marine park managers and fisheries officials, Andy Caballero and Paul Ellinger
(St. Maarten), David Kooistra and Faisal Dilrosun (Saba), and Laurens Duiveman
(Statia) to complete this assessment. We have received tremendous support from
the marine park officials of St. Maarten, Saba, and Statia, said Kristi Deur
Klomp, fisheries biologist and AGRRA team leader. This has allowed us to focus
on collecting data that will be useful for local management purposes, and at
the same time, achieve our AGRRA objectives, she added.
The AGRRA initiative was developed by researchers at the University of Miami and is funded primarily by the Ocean Research and Education Foundation of Miami. Generous contributions were also made by local sponsors; Saba Deep Dive Center, Dive Statia, Winair, the Saba Tourist Bureau, St. Maarten Marine Park, Saba Marine Park, and St. Eustatius Marine Park, the spokesman for the scientists said.
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