Conservation state of coral reefs and communities of the Caribbean Netherlands

Samenvatting

This report give a summary of the status of the coral reefs and coral communities of the Caribbean Netherlands. It includes the islands Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius and the Saba bank. Since the previous State of Nature report, the state of the corals and coral communities has worsened and should now be seen as extremely unfavorable. Coral cover on Bonaire is now on average less than 10% (mean of 5 and 10m depth), less than 3% on Saba and St. Eustatius. Algae are now the dominating group on the reefs of the Caribbean Netherlands. There are still individual sites that have a reasonable amount of coral cover, but these are disappearing rapidly. For Bonaire population growth and non-effective sewage treatment are the main local impacts. Together with rising sea levels, increasing sea water temperature and acidification, water quality is likely to seal the fate of Bonaire’s reef. Climate change effects are accumulating and measures to decrease local impacts and increase resilience are more urgent than ever. Only a policy directed at improving water quality and limiting terrestrial runoff together with strict enforcement and combined with active restoration of corals and herbivores may be able to improve the condition of Bonaire’s reef. But even then, the outcome is unsure in the face of failing international attempts to halt climate change. However, not to act should not be an option, given our responsibility towards future generations.