Future of Curacao

In 2015, the Yarari Shark and Marine Mammal Sanctuary was introduced throughout the Dutch Caribbean. This foundational step protects sharks around the islands of Saba and Bonaire. However, sharks and rays remain completely unprotected around the island of Curaçao even though anecdotal evidence strongly suggests ongoing shark catches. Elderly members of the fishing community also confirm a much greater shark abundance in the past.

To steer attention towards the implementation of shark conservation efforts in Curaçao solid information about the current and historical abundance and diversity of sharks in this region is needed.

To get this data, we teamed up with the shark experts of the island: Local fishers. Fishers spend a great deal of their lifetime at sea where they observe species and changes every day. Their knowledge is extremely valuable, especially considering historical trends. Through interviews with fishers of several generations, we gathered information about their shark catches. This includes species, catch locations and the fisher’s motivation behind the catch – both nowadays and at the start of their career. Through these insights we can identify changes in shark catches over time – valuable information that indicates which shark species are currently present and whether they have been declining, increasing or changing habitats since the 1960s. To validate fishers’ knowledge, we simultaneously work with Baited Remote Underwater Video systems (BRUVs) that record shark abundance at several locations around the island.

As we speak to fishers, we also begin to understand their motivation for catching sharks. Whether this is purely financial, social, and/or cultural – the community’s needs and perspectives need to be included in future conservation plans. Local fishers will be most affected by future regulations. To prevent the disruption of local livelihoods through shark conservation, we need to think of proper alternatives for the community – together with the community. Therefore, a vital part of this project is the creation of a healthy and respectful partnership between researchers and fishers through open communication and involvement.

We hope that through this inclusive, interdisciplinary and foremost sustainable conservation approach, we can create a safe haven for sharks and rays in Curaçao!