Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba

News about Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba

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  A circular approach to organic waste on a Caribbean island

  18 December 2024 - category_news - Managing waste on islands is always a challenging issue. Since many materials and food are shipped to the island, the waste must also be disposed of somehow. Some islands, like Bonaire, also face the problem of thousands of tons of sargassum (a type of seaweed) washing up on their beaches every year. The effects of this were unclear until recently. However, thanks to research by Wageningen University & Research, there is now more information about this and other organic waste flows on the island.
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  Hotel Iguana: Iguana nests as important link within Caribbean ecosystems

  07 October 2024 - category_news - A recent pilot study shows that nests of the Lesser Antillean iguana on Sint Eustatius are used by several other plant and animal species. They use the nests at least for cooling, hunting, and reproduction. This underscores the importance of a healthy iguana population for other Caribbean species and ecosystems. The declining number of Lesser Antillean iguanas on Sint Eustatius is therefore not only a challenge to its own survival but likely also impacts numerous other native species.
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  ReefGrazers to restore Caribbean corals and support local fisheries

  02 September 2024 - category_news - A new initiative called the ReefGrazers project is set to begin in September, aiming to restore coral reefs in the Caribbean and support sustainable fishing practices. The project, located in Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, involves several organizations, including universities and local nature management groups.
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  Can the tide be turned for coral reefs in the Caribbean Netherlands?

  04 July 2024 - Longread - The coral reefs in the Caribbean are not doing well. In a period of 50 years, over 50 percent of the coral has perished. The causes of this are diverse and require a regional and global approach. However, a recent expedition by Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) has shown that local measures can also contribute to the resilience of the coral. ‘Tackling pollution in certain “hotspots” can already make a difference', says coral researcher Erik Meesters.
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  Benefits conservation of reef sharks in protected areas double in countries with effective fisheries management

  29 May 2024 - category_news - Marine protected areas (MPAs), areas that provide legal protection to important marine and coastal ecosystems, often have more reef sharks compared to non-protected areas, but according to a new study in Nature Ecology and Evolution by researchers of Curtin University, Mote Marine Laboratory, Wageningen Marine Research, and others, finds that when MPAs are established in nations that also limit shark fishing through catch limits or gear restrictions, conservation benefits are doubled.
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  Reef sharks at much higher risk of extinction than previously thought

  20 June 2023 - category_news - According to a new study published in Science last week, reef sharks are facing extinction due to overfishing. The five main shark species that live on coral reefs — grey reef, blacktip reef, whitetip reef, nurse and Caribbean reef sharks - have declined by an average of 63 per cent worldwide, according to the scientists after a five-year international study funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
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  Mysterious sea urchin deaths unraveled: scuticociliate cause mass mortality on Caribbean coral reefs

  02 May 2023 - category_news - An international team of researchers, including Wageningen University & Research and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, has found the cause of mass mortality among Caribbean sea urchins of the species Diadema antillarum. The research has now been published in Science Advances.
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  Faster recognition of non-native iguanas on Saba helps Caribbean conservation efforts

  28 March 2023 - category_news - Researchers of Wageningen University & Research have identified a recent incursion of non-native iguanas on Saba, which form a major threat to the endemic melanistic iguana population. A promising study shows a new methodology with which non-native iguanas can be recognised and removed at an early stage for more effective protection of native populations.
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  Why seagrass needs space

  01 March 2023 - Longread - Seagrass: green leaves swaying in the currents. Fish weave their way through, and sea turtles graze. They’re always on their guard, watching out for any encroaching sharks. The seagrass’ roots are hidden in the seabed, where they anchor the sand, securing the coastline. The best-kept secret is the amount of carbon these plants store: even more than trees do. But seagrasses are facing a barrage of threats. We urgently need to protect them, and enable the rewilding of the sea.
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  Invasion of non-native reptile species continues in the Lesser Antilles

  25 February 2023 - category_news - In 2022, two new non-native reptile species were found on St. Eustatius. The two species concerned are Underwood's spectacled tegulet and the common house gecko. Both species probably established themselves on the island recently. The number of non-native reptile species in the Lesser Antilles has been rapidly increasing over the past years and is a major cause of concern for the unique biodiversity of the region.