To promote the conservation of seagrass beds and related marine plant species

Maël Andrieux Validates His Master’s Degree

Aude Berger et Maël Andrieux travaillant sur une Biohut | Aude Berger and Maël Andrieux working on a Biohut

Action CS3 : Develop and test rehabilitation programs for coral communities and associated species

Action CS7 : Develop and test rehabilitation programs for seagrass beds

Action MS31 : Develop and strengthen partnerships with the Community, state services, the Tourist Office, the Rectorate, and local institutions and associations

Maël Andrieux, a master’s student in Water Sciences and the Dynamics of Aquatic Ecosystems at the University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour, completed his end-of-study internship at the Saint Martin Nature Reserve Management Association, as a project manager for mitigating the impacts of port developments on the coastal biodiversity of Saint Martin. As part of his responsibilities, he actively participated in the monitoring of 40 Biohuts – artificial nurseries for aquatic fauna – but also in the creation of informational panels at the three port sites of Galisbay, Fort Louis Marina, and Anse Marcel Marina. On October 7, 2023, his internship defense allowed him to validate his Master’s degree. Today, the Saint Martin Nature Reserve Management Association is considering the next steps for this project, which will require mobilizing new funding. The positive point is that the three port entities are in favor of continuing this innovative program that is beneficial for the marine ecosystem.

Marine Fauna Colonize Biohuts

Une Biohut

Action CS3

Develop and test rehabilitation programs for coral communities and associated species

Action CS7

Develop and test seagrass rehabilitation programs

A total of 40 Biohuts have been installed since 2022 thanks to financing through the France Relance plan at sites ranging from the Port of Galisbay, Fort Louis Marina, and the marina at Anse Marcel. Intended to alleviate the impact of man-made development along the coasts, these artificial habitats serve as nurseries and serve as shelter for fish and crustaceans for the first stages of their lives. This increases their chances of survival and promotes the recolonization of adjacent areas by marine fauna. The interiors of these compartmentalized cages are filled with conch shells, increasing their complexity and creating niches that are favorable for the colonization of post-larvae and juvenile fish. The Biohuts are regularly monitored including 32 underwater visits to evaluate their populations.

Maël Andrieux, a master’s candidate in the study of Water Sciences and Aquatic Ecosystems at the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, did an internship at the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin to complete his degree. He was in charge of the project to alleviate the impact of expanded port facilities on the coastal biodiversity of Saint Martin, and he actively participated in the monitoring of the 40 Biohuts, in addition to working on public informational signage at three different sites: Galisbay, Marina Fort Louis, and the Anse Marcel marina. This important step in his curriculum will allow him to integrate aspects of logistical and financial project management into his thesis, as well as lead exchanges with partners managing major economic infrastructures for our region. He presented the fruits of his labor in September 2023, to complete his Master’s.

Mission terminée en baie de Marigot

Un habitat artificiel | An artificial habitat

Action CS7

Développer et tester des programmesde réhabilitation des herbiers

Le 15 février 2023, la réserve naturelle a accompli sa dernière prestation dans le cadre du contrat signé avec le port de commerce pour son conseil et son contrôle concernant l’installation de mouillages en baie de Marigot. Sept sites d’implantation d’habitats artificiels, au milieu des 75 bouées en place, ont été inspectés. Le parc a bien été installé et ces habitats sont colonisés par une douzaine d’espèces, dont des poissons ange et des langoustes royales.

Il convient maintenant de mettre en place un système opérationnel de gestion de ce parc pour en assurer le suivi, la maintenance et proposer à ses usagers un service adapté assurant la pérennité de l’infrastructure.

Action CS 3 Develop and test programs to restore coral communities and species that depend on the reefs (priorty 2) Action CC2 Publish and distribute communication materials about our natural heritage (priority 1)

Launching Of “See A Grouper” Project

The LIFE BIODIV’OM project promoting the conservation of the Nassau grouper and the Goliath grouper continues. Aude Berger, head of the project, organized the creation and installation of four large informational panels put into place at Marina Fort Louis, the marina at Anse Marcel, and the Baie Blanche beach on the small island of Tintamarre. The idea is to encourage the population at large to participate in the “See A Grouper” observation program (see article below for further details). In early January 2022, an ichthyological dive did not permit the observation of any groupers at that time, even though these fish are seen regularly during dives throughout the year.

20 pages in favor of the grouper population

A collaboration with socio-professionals is on the docket for 2022 concerning the LIFE BIODIV’OM. The idea is for the Réserve Naturelle to work with the professional and recreational fishermen, restaurateurs, and operators of touristic activities to envision the best solution for the management of the grouper population in Saint Martin. A 20-page bilingual awareness brochure provides complete information for all of the professionals as well as the general public, as everyone is invited to participate in the “See A Grouper” project. What you do is send an email—lesyeuxdesmerous@ yahoo.com— or call (+590) 690 347 710—and indicate the following information about seeing a Nassau grouper or a Goliath grouper: the date, time; and place of the observation, the species, and approximate size, as well as a photo if possible. Everyone is welcome to participate!

Action CS 3 Develop and test programs to restore coral communities and species that depend on the reefs

La Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux (LPO), qui coordonne le programme Life BIODIV’OM en faveur des mérous, lui a donné une large place dans son magazine “L’Oiseau Mag Junior”. Une chance pour les écoliers de Saint-Martin, la LPO ayant offert 900 de ces magazines à la réserve naturelle.

The league for the protection of birds (LPO), which coordinates the LIFE BIODIV’OM project for the protection of Grouper, gave it a large spread in its magazine “L’Oiseau Mag Junior”. The LPO donated 900 of these magazines to the Réserve Naturelle to be d

The LIFE BIODIV’OM Project Advances

On January 14, 2022, the scientific committee for the LIFE BIODIV’OM project met to examine the recent advances made. Amandine Vaslet, an expert ichthyologist, Antoine Lechevalier, an expert geographer, Margot Mesnard, an environmental expert, and Sofia Rockomanovic, an expert biologist, validated the documentation and the strategies to put into place. They also provided their advice to adapt and optimize the actions already deployed. The next committee meeting will be held at the end of 2022. On July 12, the 2022, the LIFE BIODIV’OM steering committee validated all of the work done by the Réserve as part of this project. This committee comprised members of the Réserve Naturelle’s advisory board, presided by the prefect of Saint Martin.

Action CS 3 Develop and test programs to restore coral communities and the species that depend on the reefs

Oursin diadème – Crowned sea urchin

Crowned Sea Urchins Victims Of An Epide

Completed in early 2022, after a few months of bad weather, the first underwater study done by the Réserve Naturelle revealed that the crowned sea urchins present at specific sites were not impacted by the epizootic disease that has periodically affected this species since the early 1980’s, from Bermuda to South America. Sadly, since April 2022, this epidemic has once again been causing devastation to the sea urchins near the reefs on the French side of the island: the spines of the animals break off and their death follows. Sint Maarten and Saint Barthélemy had indicated this regrettable phenomenon as of the month of March. Since this sea urchin is the principal regulator of algae on the reefs, its growth has been out of control since the beginning of the epidemic.

Action IP6 Develop and test programs to restore coral communities and species that depend on the reefs Action PR2 Develop and value scientific collaborations (priority 1)

A seabed with Thalassia testidinum A field of Halophila stipulacea

An Invasive Algae Subject Of A Thesis

Kimani Kitson-Walters, on the staff at the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI), has published a thesis on the arrival of Halophila stipulacea, a species of exotic, invasive algae that comes from the Red Sea, and which arrived in the Caribbean Sea during 2022. To write his thesis, titled “The loss of biodiversity loss in Caribbean seagrass ecosystems may be exacerbated by invasive algae”, the scientist requested the support of Réserve Naturelle in studying the native sea beds at Grand-Case and Orient Bay, rare sites where the sea beds are in good health, and are composed of Thalassia testidinum and Syringodium filiforme, but lack Halophila stipulacea. At the same time, Thalassia, which is known as “turtle grass,” favors the development of diverse and numerous fauna, but is giving way little by little to the invasive Halophila. Shorter and with shallower roots, Halophila grows more quickly than the native seagrass. It also is less nutritional for herbivore species and its shorter height is not good for the fauna that like to hide there. On March 29, 2022, Kimani Kitson-Walters had the help of the Réserve to carry out his study.

Action IP6 Contribute to the rehabilitation of coral reefs and sea grass beds

Improving The Quality Of Sea Water

The quality of the coastal and sea water is one of the preoccupations of the European Union, and benefits from a water framework directive (DCE), whose goals should be directed by all members of the union with an eye toward improving these waters. At the request of the DEAL (Direction for the environment, development, and housing) in Guadeloupe, the scientific department of the Réserve Naturelle participated on June 9 and 10, 2022 in a series of dives to evaluate the state of the health of the local coral and sea beds. On the coral reefs at Chico and Rocher Créole, the divers identified living species: coral, sponges, crustacean, sea urchins... And did the same for the animals living in the sea beds at Rocher Créole and Tintamarre. These evaluation dives are scheduled to take place regularly, on the basis of once per year . On the same dates, to test the physico-chemical quality of the water, the agents of the Réserve lent their logistical support for the collection of samples analyzed on-site and in the laboratory: temperature, salinity, PH, oxygenation, turbidity. These analyses will be renewed every two months. At the same time, the DEAL conducts conformity controls for water treatment plants, under the laws on water and the management of habitats and protected zones.

Update the underwater cartography

Corail cerveau - Brain coral

This action, defined as part of the management plan, will take place thanks to financing from the French Office For Biodiversity (OFB). The consulting firm, AquaSearch, will participate in 2020 as part of a new project to update the cartography displaying the underwater habitats within the Réserve Naturelle, and especially the essential habitats for sea turtles, namely the underwater sea grass beds for green turtles and the reefs for hawksbill turtles. The current maps were part of the management plan for 2010–2015, but date from 2007.

Action IP6: Contribute to the rehabilitation of coral reefs and sea grass beds

Mouillage à Tintamare - Moorings at Tintamare

The Réserve: expert in environmental moorings

responsible for supervising improvements for the Port Authority of Saint Martin, helped install banks of permanent moorings intended for recreational boats. The goal is to reduce the usage of anchors by providing the permanent moorings, which are environmentally friendly, at sites managed by the Port Authority, such as the bay in Marigot. The Réserve Naturelle, which has installed moorings at three sites—Tintamare, Rocher Créole, and Pinel—, benefits from many years of experience in this area and can bring its expertise, with an eye toward safety, sustainable management, and the protection of the marine biodiversity. In fact, these new mooring zones will not only contribute to the comfort of professional and recreational boats, but also encourage revitalization of the biodiversity through the placement of artificial habitats: thanks to Biohab and Biohab2, the artificial habitats created by the Réserve will help with the rejuvenation and diversification of the marine fauna and flora in the controlled mooring zones already impacted by the presence of hundreds of boats in high season. Similar projects have recently met with great success in the Mediterranean, thanks to NAPPEX, which has set up coastal areas as veritable nurseries.

A helping hand between Reserves

Compagnonnage entre réserves

Since 2007, the Réserve Naturelle has done an annual scientific study of the reefs and plant beds. This took place this year on September 9-12, with the support of a staff member from the Réserve Guadeloupéenne de Petite-Terre. He came to help the staff in Saint Martin document the evolution and state of these coral and sea plant communities, at stations inside and outside of the Réserve. As usual, this kind of collaboration will see the staff from Saint Martin similarly lend a hand in Saint Barth and Petite-Terre. This year, this ongoing study was augmented by a study of groupers, as part of the LIFE program, at four of the eight sites visited. These sites will also be the object of a bi-annual study throughout the LIFE program, until 2023

Reef check: presence of green algae

Algues vertes dans l’herbier – Green algae in the seagrass © Julien Chalifour

Organized every year since 2008, this year’s Reef Check took place on September 17-19, off the coast of Galion, Caye Verte, Pinel, and Rocher Créole. Two volunteers, Théo Feger and Guillaume —of Jorakhae Free Diving School — joined forces with the Réserve. The data is still being evaluated but, one year after hurricane Irma, observation revealed a high presence of green filamentous algae, especially on coral reefs and plant beds, but also washed up on the beaches, including Pinel. These algae are generally present in these areas, but usually on a seasonal basis and of a smaller quantity. Their abundance this year is an indication of organic coastal pollution, with water treatment stations at but 50% of their capacity, according to a press release issued by the EEASM in October 2018. The proliferation of these algae is promoted by strong rains, at which time runoff water is filled with organic materials and nutrients, and this year also from non-purified wastewater. Consequently, the soil leaching and coastal pollution enrich the shoreline milieu, which benefits the algae, but to the detriment of the coral that suffocates. The degraded quality of the coastal waters represents the first cause of deterioration of the marine biodiversity in Saint Martin.

Underwater collaboration between Reserves

Since 2007, the Réserve Naturelle has continued its annual scientific study of the reefs and plant beds. This took place this year on September 24-26, with the support of Jonas Hochart, from Saint Barth’s Territorial Environmental Agency. He helped the team from Saint Martin in documenting the evolution and general state of the coral communities and plant beds on the three reef stations— Chico, Rocher Pélican, and Fish Pot, a site located outside of the Réserve —and the three plant bed stations — Rocher Créole, Pinel, and Grand-Case, this last site also outside of the Réserve. The data is under evaluation, but the divers reported the return of sponges, which were heavily impacted by hurricane Irma. They also noted an excessive presence of dead coral colonies, also due to Irma. On the other hand they observed green algae, as well as the return of young macro-algae, which had drastically regressed due to the effects of successive swells. These algae compete for space and light with the coral, and clearly benefitted from the wastewater thrown into the sea.

Under the aegis of joint underwater projects between reserves, Julien Chalifour went to lend a hand in Saint Barth in an identical context, but this time for the reef stations at Boeuf islet and near Colombier. He also participated in the implantation of a new plantbed station in Petit-Cul-de-Sac, since the historic station in Marigot Bay disappeared due to private cutting of vegetation, which provoked soil leaching and subsequently the suffocation of plant beds. Participation in a study organized by the Réserve of Petite Terre in Guadeloupe followed shortly thereafter.

A «Tool Kit» For The Study Of Plant Beds

Une raie dans l’herbier - A ray in the seagrass © Julien Chalifour

One year after her first mission in the waters of Saint Martin, Fanny Kerninon returned to the island last May. Working with the Réserve, this scientist/diver visited four plant bed stations: Grand-Case, Rocher Créole, Galion, and Tintamare. Working on her thesis at the University of Western Brittany, and in collaboration with IFRECOR, for which she coordinates the observation of underwater plant beds for Overseas France, this young woman dives into tropical waters the world over, from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean. Her goal is to produce a “tool box” for the study of plant beds and the indicators that allow managers to follow the health status of “their” plant beds, which are very different one from the next. The challenge for Fanny is to develop a set of standard tools that can be used to study all types of underwater plant beds. She also represented Overseas France at the World Seagrass Conference, June 11- 17, 2018 in Singapore.

Did You Know?
Saint Martin is one of the major overseas sites where the study of plant beds has already been in place for 10 years. The Réserve Naturelle is one of the initiators of this collaborative study, which is considered to be very comprehensive by the scientists who are familiar with it.

Turtles And Sea Grass Beds

Une tortue verte sur Halophila - Green turtle on Halophila © Julien Chalifour

A team of American scientists from Florida International University (FIU), including Dr. Jeremy Kizska, spent time with the Réserve as part of their regional mission. On June 18- 22, 2018 in Tintamare’s Baie Blanche, green turtles were the focus of research designed to better understand their relationship with the plant beds currently colonized by Halophila stipulacea sea grass. This invasive species was introduced via anchors and ballast water from boats, and little by little gobbled up space in the underwater plant beds, where it is now in competition with two native species: Syringodium and Thalassia. The scientists observed the location of these underwater reptiles throughout the day, as well as their activities, as they tried to identify the different algae on their menu. This study will also allow for an estimation of the size of the turtle population that visits the plant beds in Baie Blanche, and if it was impacted by Irma. The first data reported by the Réserve was that they have not found any animal cadavers at the site. The data that still needs to be thoroughly analyzed seems to mark a major change in the habits of the sea turtles in Guadeloupe, as in Saint Martin, following Irma and the other meteorological events that took place in late 2017. This study should have also allowed for the taking of skin samples into order to open the door for the first local look at Fibropapillomatosis, a herpes virus that affects certain sea turtles around the world, and the factors that trigger the risk of this disease that scientists are just beginning to understand.

Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Saint-Martin

3 rue Barbuda, Hope Estate- 97 150 Saint-Martin
Tél: 05 90 29 09 72 Fax: 05 90 29 09 74

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Reserve.Naturelle.StMartin

Direction: direction@rnsm.org
Pôle police de la nature et logistique 06 90 57 95 55 reservenat.franck@yahoo.fr
Pôle scientifique 06 90 34 77 10 science@rnsm.org

Partenaires techniques et financiers de la Réserve naturelle

Partenaires techniques et financiers de la Réserve naturelle : Préfecture de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin, Direction de l’environnement, de l’aménagement et du logement (DEAL), Collectivité de Saint-Martin, CAR-SPAW, Agence des aires marines protégées, IFRECOR, TE ME UM

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