Maritime ManagementMaritime Management

Nature & Nature & Environment Environment

The case of the Saba The case of the Saba BankBank

Paul HoetjesPaul HoetjesDept. of Environment (MINA), Dept. of Environment (MINA), Directorate of Public Health, Directorate of Public Health,

MinVSOMinVSO

Maritime Management Maritime Management Ordinance Ordinance

•Sovereign rights bring responsibilitiesSovereign rights bring responsibilities•Sustainable management of natural Sustainable management of natural

resourcesresources•Fisheries•Biodiversity

Management responsibilityManagement responsibility

•Territorial waters Territorial waters •EEZEEZ

•Part territorial waters, part EEZPart territorial waters, part EEZ•Very little knownVery little known•1996 National Fishery Ordinance1996 National Fishery Ordinance•Foreign requests for fishing Foreign requests for fishing

permitspermits

The case of the Saba BankThe case of the Saba Bank

Management requires Management requires knowledgeknowledge

•Review 1996Review 1996•Fishery survey 1999Fishery survey 1999•Rapid Assessment 2006Rapid Assessment 2006•Hydrographic survey 2006Hydrographic survey 2006•Six month fishery and Six month fishery and

biodiversity survey 2007biodiversity survey 2007

ResultsResults

•Good idea of useGood idea of use•Very rich biodiversityVery rich biodiversity•Preliminary bottom class Preliminary bottom class

mapmap•More robust fishery dataMore robust fishery data•Management planManagement plan•PSSA proposalPSSA proposal•Necessary legislation Necessary legislation

identifiedidentified

Conflicting usesConflicting uses

•Very rich biodiversityVery rich biodiversity• Important fishery areaImportant fishery area•Regional importance (nursery)Regional importance (nursery)•Anchoring ground for large shipsAnchoring ground for large ships

Goals for sustainable Goals for sustainable managementmanagement1.1. Anchoring must stopAnchoring must stop

2.2. Management body necessaryManagement body necessary

3.3. Shipping must be monitored & Shipping must be monitored & controlledcontrolled

4.4. Fishery must be monitored and Fishery must be monitored and adaptively regulatedadaptively regulated

5.5. Establish regional Conch reserveEstablish regional Conch reserve

6.6. Monitor coral reefsMonitor coral reefs

7.7. More thorough study of biodiversity and More thorough study of biodiversity and fishery resourcesfishery resources

8.8. Study possibilities to develop dive Study possibilities to develop dive tourismtourism

Regulate international Regulate international shippingshipping

Territorial watersTerritorial waters– Regulations prohibiting Regulations prohibiting

anchoringanchoring– Ship routing (Racon buoys)Ship routing (Racon buoys)

For EEZ via IMOFor EEZ via IMO– PSSA StatusPSSA Status– No Anchoring AreasNo Anchoring Areas– Area to be avoided (ATBA)Area to be avoided (ATBA)

Monitor international Monitor international shippingshipping

Malpelo Island

Great Barrier Reef

Sabana-CamagueyFlorida Keys

Wadden Sea

Paracas National Reserve

Existing PSSAsExisting PSSAs

Galapagos

Saba bank??

Why PSSAWhy PSSA• Sends message of importanceSends message of importance•Can also include no sewage or Can also include no sewage or

ballast water dischargeballast water discharge •Marketing toolMarketing tool

Northwestern Hawaiian islands

Monitoring and management of Monitoring and management of fisheryfishery

– Collect data from fishermenCollect data from fishermen– (reporting system) and report back(reporting system) and report back– Protect Spawning AreasProtect Spawning Areas– Adaptive management together Adaptive management together

with fishermenwith fishermen– Study potential artificial lobster Study potential artificial lobster

habitatshabitats

Further StudyFurther Study

– Provide platform for scientific Provide platform for scientific research to further document research to further document species richness and ecosystemsspecies richness and ecosystems

– Develop ‘scientific tourism’Develop ‘scientific tourism’

All done then…?All done then…?

•Urgently need staff and funding Urgently need staff and funding for managementfor management

•Urgently need legislationUrgently need legislation•PSSA proposal needs to go to IMOPSSA proposal needs to go to IMO