PHILIPSBURG:--- On December 9th 2014, during the 8th Conference of Parties for the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol of the Cartagena Convention in Cartagena, Colombia, the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area, St. Maarten's first National Park, was formally listed under the Special Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol. Also listed at the United Nations Environment Program/ Caribbean Environment Program meeting was the Statia National Marine Park and the Saba National Marine Park.
The SPAW Protocol is part of the Cartagena Convention. Eligible sites for listing under the SPAW Protocol are those coastal and marine areas that are ecologically important to the Wider Caribbean region. The listing of marine protected areas is done to sustain the natural resources of the Wider Caribbean region and to encourage ecologically sound and appropriate use, understanding and enjoyment of the areas. Ultimately, sites listed will contribute to a comprehensive and representative system network of protected areas in the Wider Caribbean region, across all bioregions and across the range of ecosystems within each bioregion.
On December 30th 2010 the then Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs the Honorable Mr. Franklin Myers signed a major step towards marine environmental protection and conservation in general for the country St Maarten when he approved the establishment of the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area, St. Maarten's first protected area.
The area includes the island's most ecologically and economical important marine habitat, including extensive coral reef areas and seagrass beds and was chosen to be a priority for official conservation because of its intrinsic ecological, economic and cultural value. The Man of War Shoal Marine Park is a home and migratory stop over or breeding site for 3 IUCN Red List Species, 10 CITES Appendix I species and 89 Appendix II species. It is an area with a relatively healthy population of marine mammals including migratory whales and dolphins, numerous species of shark, sea turtles and numerous fish species. Studies have shown that biodiversity in this area, particularly coral reef density, is high and the economic goods and services which the ecosystem provides are in excess of fifty million dollars annually. Studies conducted by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation have shown that biodiversity in this area, particularly coral reef density, is high and the economic goods and services which the ecosystem provides are in excess of fifty million dollars annually. Also, compared to the period prior to the establishment of the Marine Park fish abundance has increased some 10% in fish species and, since fish travel from the Marine Park into other areas, this spill-over will increase fishing in local waters outside of the Marine Park.
"The listing process for an area is quite a long and involved one that required close cooperation with our partners at the Regional Activities Center in Guadeloupe, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and our numerous partners within the region and abroad. It is quite an important step to have the first protected area and one of the youngest marine protected areas of the Caribbean listed under a protocol that falls under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program. With this listing we will be able to better manage the park and ensure that we contribute to the biodiversity management of our marine resources", commented Tadzio Bervoets of the Nature Foundation. The Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area is managed by the Foundation for the Management and Conservation of Nature on Sint Maarten (short: Nature Foundation St. Maarten), which was established in January 1997 with the objective to enhance the environment through proper management, education awareness and protection.