Please Don’t Step on the Grass--Bonaire’s Sea Grass Beds, That Is!

In a move to protect the vital sea grass beds in Lac Bay, the Bonaire Sea Turtle Club (STCB) has joined with others in establishing protected areas with an in-water system of buoys and lines.

Sea grass provides an important food source for Bonaire’s juvenile green turtles. Lac’s sea grass beds also provide shelter, food and oxygen for other marine life, from microorganisms to fish, crabs, shrimp and queen conch. Additionally, sea grass roots in the near-shore beds prevent Lac’s sand from eroding. Areas with dense sea grass bottoms have been in jeopardy in Lac Bay due to heavy recreational use there. The line-and-buoy boundaries are visual markers to warn bay users of the sea grass beds below the waterline.

Roped-off areas designated by buoys are now located in the heavy traffic windsurfer area in front of Jibe City and around the point to the wind surf competition area.

STCB is being joined in this project by PROES (Progressive Environment Solutions) and STINAPA (National Parks Foundation Bonaire). Two local businesses, Jibe City and The Windsurf Place, have joined the project as supporting partners, providing technical and financial assistance, and on-site encouragement to users to stay outside of the marked areas. Lac Bay is a critical, sensitive environment, and this project will benefit not only the sea turtles, but also Bonaire’s biodiversity in general.  (Source:  STCB)

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