Saba Conservation Foundation

Ready for a lab-tour of the HVHL - Saba Research Center! Join Dr. Alwin Hylkema, associate professor at Van Hall Larenstein and Wageningen University, as he guides you through a behind-the-scenes lab tour of our innovative research center. At the HVHL - Saba Research Center, we are focused on reintroducing Diadema antillarum, the long-spined black sea urchin. These important herbivores, nearly wiped out in the 1980s, play a critical role in controlling algae. By doing this, we try to create space for coral to settle and grow. Love marine science and conservation? Don’t forget to follow our page! Stay updated on our mission to restore the reefs of the Dutch Caribbean and enjoy regular videos highlighting research and restoration efforts. Contact us: 📧 Email: src@hvhl.nl Video credit: Luc Roozendaal

📣 Announcement: Fisheries Stakeholder Meeting Tomorrow! 🐟 The Saba Bank Management Unit is excited to invite all stakeholders to join us tomorrow, November 20th, from 2 PM to 4 PM for a Fisheries Stakeholder Meeting at the Saba Conservation Foundation Office.

The third day of HRH Princess Beatrix’ visit was all about Saba, as HRH Princess Beatrix learned more about the conservation efforts ranging from marine restoration and reforestation 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 - Sea Urchin Hatchery: The Caribbean’s first hatchery, restoring sea urchins vital to coral health - Insightful tour with research teams from Van Hall Larenstein and Wageningen University, working to revive Saba's reefs 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 - Reforestation Project: Princess Beatrix learns about SCF’s 'ReLeaf' project, aiming to reduce erosion and boost biodiversity - Junior Rangers: Youth present their reforestation knowledge and help launch native seed bombs to restore local flora Photo credit: Adam Watkins (Hatchery) and Jacco Backx/Tom Brokke (Botanical Garden) / DCNA Nature Foundation Sint Maarten Saba Conservation Foundation St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) Carmabi STINAPA Bonaire Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur Nationale Postcode Loterij Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences Wageningen University & Research

🚨 Internship Opportunity: Lobster Abundance Survey on the Saba Bank 🚨 Join our research team at the Saba Conservation Foundation for an exciting internship focused on the Caribbean spiny lobster in the Dutch Caribbean! Gain hands-on experience in marine ecology, fisheries research, and data collection while working on a critical project to assess lobster populations and their habitats on the Saba Bank. Key Details: 📍 Location: Saba, Dutch Caribbean 📅 Start Date: Preferably second week of January ⏳ Duration: Minimum until mid-March Tasks include: 🔹 Trap deployment and monitoring 🔹 Biological data collection 🔹 Collaboration with local fishers What we offer: ✅ Internship allowance ✅ Safety at Sea course ✅ Valuable fieldwork experience in marine research Apply by November 30th! For more details, check the project description and share with anyone who might be interested.

🦈 📹 | Global Finprint 2 study launched in the Dutch Caribbean to study sharks and rays! Eleven years ago (photo with yellow shorts), I was part of the first BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) study in the Dutch Caribbean as a MSc student. Today (photo with striped shirt), I’m very happy to lead the Global FinPrint 2 project in this region, supervising students, and working together with my friends and colleagues Erwin Winter from Wageningen Marine Research and Tadzio Bervoets from the Caribbean Shark Coalition. Over recent months, our students Elena and Quinten have been deploying BRUV surveys along Sint Maarten’s coast in partnership with SXM Divers, gathering crucial data on local elasmobranch species. Our work in the Dutch Caribbean cover St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius, and Curaçao, with the support of the local conservation organisations Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, Saba Conservation Foundation, COIA, and St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA). Soon, we’ll expand sampling efforts to these other islands, further enhancing our understanding abundance and diversity of local shark and ray populations. Global FinPrint 2 is an international research project, supported by experts from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Florida, to assess shark and ray populations in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. The insights from this research are intended to strengthen conservation strategies, addressing the impact of human activities and environmental factors on these critical marine species. #globalfinprint #sharkconservation #dutchcaribbean #underwatercameras #sharkresearch #rayresearch #saveoursharks

👑 Exciting News! Princess Beatrix is visiting Sint Maarten & Saba from Nov 12-15! As DCNA’s patroness, she’ll be shining a spotlight on nature conservation & community initiatives. 🌿 During her visit she will join the NFSXM and SCF in 🐦Birdwatch along the Salt Pond boardwalk 👧🧒 Meeting Junior Rangers - our nature ambassadors of the future 🌳 Exploring Little Key, an area of focus for an upcoming legislation to make it the first protected nature park for St. Maarten 🌱As well as a number of other nature related stops. Read more about the royal visit by visiting https://lnkd.in/eYU7eZg2 Photo credit: Kai Wulf Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) Carmabi STINAPA Bonaire Saba Conservation Foundation Nature Foundation Sint Maarten St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur Nationale Postcode Loterij Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation (EWEF) Environmental Protection in the Caribbean UNICEF

As part of Saba’s continuing efforts towards nature conservation, the ReefGrazers project has begun in September with the main goal of coral restoration and supporting sustainable fishing practices. This project, located also in Bonaire and Sint Eustatius, is done in collaboration with several organizations, including universities and local nature management groups. https://lnkd.in/ghhhw-qV

Saba continues to make strides towards active coral reef restoration.  https://wix.to/RLilWPr