SABA/ST. EUSTATIUS--St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation STENAPA offered its congratulations to Artificial reefs on Saba and Statia ARROSTA on their second prize at the RAAK-award 2018.
Researchers and students of Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, collaborated with local organisations on Saba and St. Eustatius. Besides STENAPA, these are Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), Wageningen Marine Research, Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) and Golden Rock Dive Centre.
RAAK acknowledges this effort and “appreciates the great interconnectedness and commitment of all parties, and the way they respond to specific local requirements and simultaneously contribute towards the broad knowledge base in this area.”
AROSSTA aims to preserve and restore coral reefs at Statia and Saba. Various artificial reefs, such as a hollow ball with holes and a layered “cake” made from concrete, were placed on the sea floor and studied over a two-year period.
The deteriorating reefs of these Dutch Caribbean islands require such restorative efforts. These reefs are considered crucial for marine life and the social well-being of both islands.
The RAAK-award offers a stage to leading practical research by colleges and universities of applied sciences. The award is intended to increase awareness and quality of research. The second prize consisted of a money prize of 5,000 euros.
