For example, monitoring water quality provides important data that can reveal where and when pollutants enter the surrounding sea. This information is essential for understanding risks to fishing, coral reefs, and swimming areas, and it supports decisions about how best to protect public health and marine resources.
This work, which includes recent water sampling efforts, is being carried out by STENAPA in collaboration with research institutions and the Statia Government Data Monitoring Officer. It is part of a broader research effort led by Wageningen University & Research and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water (IenW). The project contributes data to the ongoing NEPP programme, which leads the long-term monitoring of marine ecosystems in collaboration with partners across the Dutch Caribbean
Data collection serves several purposes. It enables a better understanding of environmental changes over time and informs actions that protect biodiversity and natural resources. In the case of Statia, the data also provides important insights before and after, for instance, storms, hurricanes, and developments such as the expansion of the seaport. By comparing conditions over time, researchers can assess the impact of human activities. Beyond local activities, data collection can also reveal the influence of external pollutants, such as those carried by ocean currents or wind, that impact Statia’s ecosystems. This information helps guide future policies to maintain a healthy balance between development and environmental stewardship. Reliable monitoring and data are essential for making sound policy choices and guiding effective management of our natural resources.
The Statia Government continues to support this work as part of its commitment to long-term development that respects and protects the island’s natural resources. The results of this research will help inform decisions that benefit both the environment and the Statia community.
For more scientific background, please see : Coastal Ecosystems: Resilience Restoration of Nature and Society in the Caribbean Netherlands - WUR
