Documentary on Sharks on Saba, Statia and Sint Maarten win Top Prize at Conference Film Festival
PHILIPSBURG:---- Dutch Caribbean Conservation Organizations including the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, the Saba Conservation Foundation, STINAPA Bonaire and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance joined with fishermen representatives from Saba and Bonaire and representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs in attending the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute GCFI meeting held in Panama City, Panama last week.
The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) was founded in 1947 to promote the exchange of current information on the use and management of marine resources in the Gulf and Caribbean region. From its beginning, GCFI has endeavored to involve scientific, governmental, and commercial sectors to provide a broad perspective on relevant issues, and to encourage dialogue among groups that often operate in relative isolation from one another.
During the conference extensive presentations, discussions and networking activities were held to strengthen fisheries conservation and environmental protection of marine resources in the Dutch Caribbean Region, including on the management of the lionfish population and the management of Marine Protected Areas for fisheries enhancement. Representatives also joined in various sessions in discussing how to better ensure conservation and management of Caribbean sharks and rays, some of the most endangered animals in the ocean.
Highlight of the conference was the awarding of the prize for best documentary from a pool of thirty candidates from throughout the region for ‘Sharks Demystified; Saba, Statia and St. Maarten’, a locally produced film by Chizzilala about the conservation of sharks on the three sister islands. The film was made in 2015 and was narrated and presented by Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets and features information from Saba Park Manager Kai Wulf and manager of the St. Eustatius Marine Park Jessica Berkel. The film also features interviews and thoughts from Scientists and Fisherman on the importance of protecting sharks. The film can be viewed on Vimeo: Sharks Demystified Saba-St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.