Friday, February 29, 2008

Bonaire Island Government Stipulates Fish Reserve Areas

The Executive Council of Bonaire took the decision to install two areas of fish reserves in the Bonaire Marine Park.  The two areas are between Playa Chachacha going southward to the marina at Plaza Resort, as well as Punt’i Waya (the north end of Hato) going southward to the marina at Harbour Village Resort.  Effective immediately, it is prohibited to fish in these areas.

The creation of these reserve areas is part of the government’s nature management plan and are part of the marine park which STINAPA administers.  During 2007, STINAPA, together with a section of the nature managment area of DROB, investigated the idea of the reserves with scientists, local fishermen, and other involved entities.

The rangers of the Bonaire National Marine Park will be supervising and patrolling the new fish reserves.  As in the past, other areas within the marine park are unaffected, such as between Karpata and Bopec and the area of Playa Frans to Boka Slagbaai.

The creation of these fish reserves was based upon the fact that, during past years, the local Bonaire fishermen noted less fish were available and that the fish caught were smaller in size than those caught only ten years ago. This same phenomenon was also experienced in St. Lucia, where local fisherman found more fish, and larger fish, only after the creation of fish reserves.  The reserves provide fish with areas where they can reproduce and grow to larger sizes without disturbance. (Source:  Bonaire Island Government)