Dutch Caribbean Islands Join Forces to Protect Migrating Whales and Dolphins

(BIO) NEWS research edition. Every edition we highlight 1 article with the latest? nature news from the six Dutch Caribbean Islands focused on research and monitoring.? As always you can find our complete list of articles HERE. As well as an overview of recent publications, current research and monitoring activities and needs at the end of this newsletter.?

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) recently participated as a panelist at the Caribbean Cetacean Society's (CCS) symposium in Cura?ao, where the results of CCS's two-year cetacean monitoring program were presented. This extensive monitoring effort focused on the waters around Aruba, Bonaire, and Cura?ao. During the symposium, DCNA, CCS, and other regional organizations emphasized the importance of cooperation to improve the protection of whales and dolphins in the Dutch Caribbean.

Cetaceans are a group of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises, known for their intelligence, social behavior, and adaptation to life in aquatic environments.? These amazing creatures can travel thousands of kilometers during their migrations, therefore understanding the behavior and movements is crucial for their conservation.

Whales and dolphins are crucial to our blue economy, they are shaping our food chain, and represent one of the best nature based solution to fight climate change. Protecting them is protecting us. However they are facing many threats due to human pressure.

The Dutch Caribbean

The waters surrounding Aruba, Bonaire, and Cura?ao provide important feeding, breeding, and nursery habitats for a variety of these species, including bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, and pilot whales and many more. As key contributors to marine biodiversity, protecting these species ensures the stability and health of the entire marine ecosystem. Recent findings, such as the movement of bottlenose dolphins between Bonaire's Yarari Sanctuary and the waters of Cura?ao, emphasize the interconnectedness of the islands’ marine environments.

No Borders

Cetacean conservation is a transboundary issue, requiring cooperation across the Dutch Caribbean and beyond. Marine mammals like whales and dolphins can move across national borders, which highlights the importance of international collaboration. The Yarari Sanctuary, already protecting marine mammals in Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, offers a starting point for expanding such protections across the wider region. Efforts to expand this protection to Aruba, Cura?ao and St. Maarten, along with protected marine corridors, are critical to safeguarding these species as they migrate through Caribbean waters.

Future Efforts

Looking ahead, there is a clear need to strengthen the management of existing marine sanctuaries and explore the possibility of establishing new protected areas. Priorities include the development of adaptive management plans, improving relevant legislation, and raising public awareness about the importance of cetacean conservation. Close cooperation between local governments, conservation groups, and international partners, such as WWF Dutch Caribbean, CCS and Blue Marine Foundation, is essential to ensure the long-term protection of the region’s marine life.

Publications?Check out recent reports and publications on biodiversity related subjects in the Dutch Caribbean HERE?

Research & Monitoring Projects ? Stay up to date with projects in the Dutch Caribbean via our project overview HERE.??

Guidelines for Design & Conduct of Research & Monitoring Projects See our recommendations HERE.?

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The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) supports (science) communication and outreach in the Dutch Caribbean region by making nature related (scientific) information more widely available through amongst others the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s news platform BioNews and through the press. This article contains the results from several (scientific) studies but the studies themselves are not DCNA studies. No rights can be derived from the content. DCNA is not liable for the content and the in(direct) impacts resulting from publishing this article.?

BioNews is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). DCNA’s activities are generously supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.?

Thanks to local conservation efforts, nature on our islands is protected.?We want you and your loved ones to be able to enjoy it for many years to come. Want to help? Donate here: https://dcnanature.org/donate/?

Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) Carmabi STINAPA Bonaire St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) Nature Foundation Sint Maarten Saba Conservation Foundation Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur Nationale Postcode Loterij