Marine Park Aruba
| Marine Park Aruba | |
|---|---|
| Parke Marino Aruba | |
 Map of Aruban marine protected areas (blue) and Arikok National Park (green).[1] | |
| Location |
|
| Area | 60.2 square kilometres (23.2 sq mi) |
| Established | 2019 |
| Governing body | Aruba National Park Foundation |
TheMarine Park Arubaare marine protected areas (MPAs) situated around the island ofAruba.Thisnature reservewas established on December 21, 2018 and brought under the management ofFundacion Parke Nacional Aruba(FPNA, Aruba National Park Foundation) on April 16, 2019.[1][2]
MPAs consists of four designatedmarine reserves,which are legally protected due to their vastbiodiversity.[3][4]These include the coastal waters adjacent toArikok National Park(16.5 km2(6.4 sq mi)), the coastal water around the "Eastern Cape" ofSeroe Colorado(18.7 km2(7.2 sq mi)), the coastal water alongMangel Halto,Isla di Oro,Santo Largo,with coastal mangroves (16 km2(6.2 sq mi)), and thereef islands of Oranjestadfrom the lagoon next toGovernor's Bay Beachup toPunta Brabo,excluding the cruise ship passage channel (9 km2(3.5 sq mi)). These marine reserves (0.2% of Aruba's territorial waters)[5]serve as natural habitats forcoral reefs,seagrasses,andmangrove forestsand act as breeding and foraging areas for sea turtles, seabirds, and sharks.[1]
The designated marine parks on Aruba include some of the island's most valuable reefs. However, the reef sections between MPA Seroe Colorado and MPA Mangel Halto, and particularly the area between MPA Mangel Halto and MPA Oranjestad, host some of Aruba's best remaining reefs along theleewardshore. While these areas are significant for reef preservation, they are not part of the MPAs.[6]To avoid impactingeconomic activities,these areas are left unprotected. Protecting them would disrupt the operations ofcruise shipsand thecontainer port.Nevertheless, inBonaire,where severalmarine ecosystemshave been safeguarded since 1979, it's feasible to host cruise ships.[7]
References
[edit]- ^abcWal, Sietske van der; Nunes, Giancarlo; Silva, Natasha & Cuba, Roland de (2019)."Parke Marino Aruba 2019-2021 Preliminary Management Plan"(PDF).Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database.Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA).
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^"Management Plan Marine Park | Aruba National Park Foundation".Retrieved2023-11-01.
- ^Overheid, Aruba (2018-12-27)."AB2018No.77"[National Decree Parke Marino Aruba].overheid.aw(in Dutch).Retrieved2023-10-31.
- ^Spier, 9 januari 2019 | Bobby (2019-01-09)."Nieuw marinepark Aruba beschermt meest kwetsbare gebied niet | Caribisch Netwerk"[New Aruba marine park does not protect most vulnerable area].caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl(in Dutch).Retrieved2023-10-31.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"Governance | Aruba National Park Foundation".Retrieved2023-11-08.
- ^Vermeij, Mark; Marhaver, Kristen; Estep, Andrew; Sandin, Stuart (2019).Coral Reefs Baseline Study for Aruba 2019(PDF)(Report). Government of Aruba: Directorate of Nature and Environment.
- ^AnimalsToday (2019-01-17)."Marine Park Aruba beschermt meest belaste gebieden niet".Animals Today(in Dutch).Retrieved2023-11-05.