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DID YOU KNOW?

One reason for the remarkable health and quality of Bonaire’s fringing reefs is the fact that the island shelters the west coast from the high winds that almost exclusively come from the east. In the absence of high winds, the surf is rarely strong, which allows the corals to survive and thrive. Another reason: the

low degree of development and lack of large-scale agriculture means there is little by way of nutrient-rich runoff to promote algal growth, which can outcompete corals for space on the reef. Last – but certainly not least – Bonaire has been very proactive in helping protect its reef resources and surrounding waters as far back as the 1960s, which helped sustain the country’s coral reefs.

ABOUT BONAIRE

BONAIRE

Marine conservation and management

Bonaire fringing reefs are home to more than 350 species of reef fishes and almost every species of hard and soft coral present in the Caribbean. The island is considered a biodiversity hotspot in the Caribbean and has earned an international reputation for not just the quality of its diving but its successful conservation programs as well – proof positive that tourism and conservation can be mutually beneficial forces. The Bonaire government takes their duty to manage these resources seriously, and the nation has undertaken many conservation and management initiatives to protect the environment. In fact, the

Bonaire model is considered so successful that the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has designated it a demonstration site, and the model was the basis for a similar program in Indonesia.

STINAPA

Stichting Nationale Parken (STINAPA) Bonaire is a non-governmental organization tasked with managing the island’s two main national parks: the Bonaire National Marine Park (Marine Park) and the Washington Slagbaai National Park (see page 20). Divers must pay a $25 USD user or entrance fee – the government refers to it as a Nature Fee – which is payable once per year to any local dive center, hotel activity desk or the company organizing an activity in the marine

A stretch of the northwestern coast showcasing its lack of development

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