Priorities in management implementation for marine mammal conservation in the Saba sector of the Yarari sanctuary

Abstract

A. O. Debrot, J.E.Tamis, D. de Haan, M. Scheidat, J.T. van der Wal, 2017 was formally established on September 2, 2015. It is currently composed of two sectors: one surrounding Saba and the Saba Bank and one covering the EEZ waters of Bonaire. In order to help establish an effective cetacean conservation management plan for the Saba and Saba Bank sector of the sanctuary we here review the main marine mammal threats, help identify main management goals and make both governance and management recommendations based both on stakeholder interviews and a management review of functioning marine mammal sanctuaries in the WesternAtlantic.There are 8 species of marine mammals known to occur in the windward Dutch Caribbean YarariSanctuary. The sanctuary has relatively low levels of human activity. Based on our review, cumulative contaminant impacts -such as oil contamination originating from St. Eustatius -are potentially highest, followed by collision impacts due to the relatively high level of shipping traffic. Other factors such as, fishery entanglement, bycatch-impacts and marine debris impacts are likely low compared to many areas directly outside the sanctuary. While whale & dolphin watching impacts are still probably negligible, the impacts of anthropogenic noise, climate-change impacts and cumulative impacts still remain unknown but are potentially high.Five main clusters of interrelated goals and objectives were identified based on expert and management stakeholder interviews. The most essential proximate goal for management should be to establish a minimum structural level of institutional capacity. Under the reigning conditions of resource limitation, the next key goal should be to establish effective collaboration towards jointly achieving the higher management goals and objectives.Based on our review of species, threats, operations of other sanctuaries and expert and stakeholder input we list 23 priority recommendations and action points towards implementation of cetacean conservation for the Saba and Saba Bank Yarari sector. Governance• Use the Saba Bank Management Unit (SMBU) governance model for Yarari management implementation.• Consider merging Yarari tasks into the SMBU to effectuate resource pooling and prevent management fragmentation. Legal resources• Design and implement a simple legal mandate for Yarari management.• Copy and implement international legal guidelines for whale watching.• Revise the Fishery Framework Act BES (Vissery Visserijwet besluit BES) or draft a Decree (Regeling) under the Nature Conservation Framework Act BES (Wet Grondslagen Natuurbeheer en-bescherming, WGN) to forbid all forms of pelagic (not benthic) longline and purse seine fishing in Yarari waters.• Devise and implement legal measures and guidelines to safeguard Yarari from anthropogenic noise pollution. Finances• Based on the review of functioning sanctuaries, and current stressor levels, a basic annual budget of US$ 150 K will be sufficient to implement satisfactory marine mammal conservation.• Focus expenditures on mana...

Rapid declines in lionfish catches in the Saba Bank lobster and snapper trap fisheries, Dutch Caribbean

“…In recent years, it has gained international recognition as an area of exceptional biodiversity value and been accorded increasingly higher and more extensive conservation status. For instance, in 2012 it was accorded "Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)" status by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which forbids tanker tra c, while in 2015 it became part of the "Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary" emphasizing its value to both endangered cetaceans and sharks (Debrot et al, 2017).…”

Review of threats and implementation of the Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region

“…Gero & Whitehead (2016) suggested that 20 or more sperm whale entanglements may have occurred in the eastern Caribbean in 2015 alone. Sperm whale and humpback whale entanglements have also been noted in Aruba (Debrot et al, 2017), Martinique, and Guadeloupe (Rinaldi & Rinaldi, 2016). Major disfigurements have been observed in bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), and false killer whales in Aruban waters and could be attributed to interactions with fishing gear (Luksenburg, 2014).…”

“…A review of marine debris indicated that little information is available on contamination of the biota in the WCR (Ivar do Sul & Costa, 2007). Ingestion of anthropogenic debris has been documented in two stranded beaked-whale specimens for the Dutch Caribbean (Debrot et al, 2017) and a manatee died from the effects of ingesting a large sheet of plastic in Florida (Heneman, 1988).…”

“…Seismic surveys continue to occur around the Caribbean isles with increasing oil and gas exploration, with a recent survey conducted by the Texas University in November 2014 in the coastal waters around Bonaire (Debrot et al, 2017), and the Bahamas in 2020 (Palmer, 2021).…”

Description of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Proposed Marine Nomination Properties of the Bonaire and Curaçao Marine Parks (BCMP)

“…Along with the nearby 143,256 km 2 French AGOA Sanctuary and other western North Atlantic marine mammal sancturaries (which include the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and USA) Yarari forms part of a network of protected areas to guarantee essential habitat to large migratory species like threatened marine mammals and sharks. The Netherlands government continues taking active steps towards effective implementation of the Yarari Sanctuary (Debrot et al 2017b).…”