Bmp.org - Information about the Bonaire National Marine Park
Title
Bonaire Marine Park - National Park of the Netherlands Antilles
Description
Bonaire has always been very proactive when it comes to environmental issues and positively outspoken when it comes to its own marine environment. Whilst most other places world wide were still nailing their turtle shells to the wall and slurping their turtle soup, in 1961 Bonaire was already enacting legislation to protect sea turtle eggs and nests. In 1971 divers took spearguns into the water with them in much the same way as divers today consider themselves better equipped when armed with an underwater camera - Bonaire banned spearfishing ! Whilst islands in the Indo-Pacific were (and sadly are) still regularly collecting live coral from their reefs to sell for souvenirs, Bonaire in 1975 made it illegal to break coral, take it from the water or sell it.
It was small wonder then, when the Island Government of Bonaire decided to create the Bonaire Marine Park, it was just the next logical step ! And so with the generous financial support of World Wildlife Fund, Holland the Marine Park sprang to life in 1979. The management body for the Marine Park is STINAPA (a shortened version of "Stichting National Parken Nederlandse Antillen" - now you wished you never asked !). Its role is essentially that of a nature conservancy organisation. It is a non-governmental, not for profit organisation run by a board of dedicated local professionals who donate their time to protect and conserve the island's natural flora and fauna both above and below the sea. In addition to the Bonaire Marine Park, STINAPA has management of the Washington Slagbaai National Park, Barcadera cave system and the Karpata Ecological Centre.
The Marine Park extends from the high water mark to the 60m depth contour all the way around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire encompassing an area of approximately 270 hectares. The Marine Park's job is to ensure that the marine resources of the island, the magnificent coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves, are used in such a way that they do not become degraded - in other words that they are used in a sustainable manner. What we're actually trying to ensure is that you'll be able to come back to Bonaire year after year and enjoy our wonderful coral reefs just as they are now.
Contact
- STINAPA
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- Kralendijk Bonaire
- Netherlands Antilles 00000
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- +599.7178444
