Dutch Caribbean

The Dutch Caribbean Islands, covering 81,000 sq km of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), are crucial for migratory species like 25 shark species, whales, dolphins, and seabirds. Their coral reefs are among the Caribbean’s last healthy ones, threatened by climate change. Comprising Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St Maarten, St Eustatius, and Saba, the region is globally recognized for its unique, threatened biodiversity and is home to the largest concentration of marine species in the Atlantic.

Since 2020, Blue Marine has been working with local partners, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), and the Nature Park foundations of the six islands, to safeguard their distinctive ecosystems and varied wildlife. These initiatives strive to expand marine protected areas (MPAs) within the EEZs and coastal waters of the region, establish sustainable funding for conservation efforts, and support local projects. 

In 2023, with DCNA and Blue Nature Alliance, we helped secure major government commitments at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama. Aruba pledged to create a 25,199 sq km MPA, while Curaçao committed to a 30% no-take MPA covering 9,128 sq km. We’re also supporting St. Maarten’s Nature Foundation in securing a legislative framework for its inshore MPA. Additionally, we’re working with the Curaçao government on a Nature Policy Plan, providing technical assistance and coordinating stakeholder engagement.

Throughout 2024, Blue Marine and DCNA provided extensive technical and stakeholder engagement support to the Curacao government in drafting a new Nature Policy Plan for the island. In October, the plan was approved by ministers, and was due to be published before the end of the year. The plan includes the marine conservation and management commitments and objectives that Blue Marine recommended, and sets a high ambition for protection in Curacao.  

In partnership with the St Maarten Nature Foundation, we completed the first stage of St Maarten’s MPA legislative review, and presented the findings to Parliament, laying the foundation for increasing inshore MPA coverage. This includes designating ‘Little Key’ island, a critical mangrove habitat in Simpson Bay lagoon, as a protected area.  

Now in its third year, our ‘small grants programme’ for the Dutch Caribbean continues to run successfully. Highlights in 2024 included: Aruba Conservation Foundation finalised designs for its new Marine Conservation Centre; Bonaire installed 16 acoustic receiver stations to track 21 tagged species; Curaçao‘s Carmabi Marine Education Centre engaged more than 1,250 students; Saba’s Marine Field Station welcomed more than 100 visitors, including the Dutch royal family and EU delegates; St Eustatius began demarcating marine reserve boundaries; and St Maarten monitored seagrass habitats to support marine spatial planning.