Saba National Marine Park
Encyclopedia
The Saba National Marine Park encompasses the waters and sea bed encircling Saba, the Netherlands
from the high water mark to 200 feet (60 meters) deep. In total, the marine park covers approximately five square miles (1300 hectare
s). At the time of its creation in 1987, the government passed the Marine Environment Ordinance to protect the coral reef
s and other marine life found in the park. The Saba Conservation Foundation manages the Saba National Marine Park, as well as the island's hyperbaric
facility and natural sites on land.
A number of regulations ensure that the park's thriving aquatic life remains healthy. Zones divide the area according to acceptable uses. For instance, commercial fishing
is forbidden in certain places to prevent overfishing
. The reef
s are protected from damage by 36 permanently anchored buoy
s where boats can moor. And scuba divers
are not permitted to dive by themselves; they must dive with guides from one of Saba's three dive shops. Protecting the Saba National Marine Park is not only an environmental concern, it's also an economic concern. Tourism
currently brings in more money to the island than any other industry, and the Saba National Marine Park is the biggest tourist draw.
Aside from the fact that Saba's reefs have remained healthy, several natural formations attract divers to the marine park. A few features were formed through volcanic activity, such as the Pinnacles. These peaks rise up to 100 feet (30 m) from the ocean floor, covered with corals, sponges, and other invertebrates. In the Ladder Bay area, a natural labyrinth was created by flowing lava. Other attractions include underwater caves, tunnels, and rock walls.
Many different species of life inhabit the Saba National Marine Park. Soft corals abound, while hard corals live only in the waters on the island's east side. Types of fish found in the park include parrotfish
, blue tang
, black durgon, and barracuda
. Shark
s and stingray
s frequent certain areas. Octopus
, turtle
s, and spiny lobster
make the park their home also.
Saba's residents may access the park for free, while visitors pay $3 (US) per dive (in addition to dive shop diving fees). The park fee supports maintenance of the park and its equipment.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
from the high water mark to 200 feet (60 meters) deep. In total, the marine park covers approximately five square miles (1300 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s). At the time of its creation in 1987, the government passed the Marine Environment Ordinance to protect the coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s and other marine life found in the park. The Saba Conservation Foundation manages the Saba National Marine Park, as well as the island's hyperbaric
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric medicine, also known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy , is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. The equipment required consists of a pressure chamber, which may be of rigid or flexible construction, and a means of delivering 100% oxygen...
facility and natural sites on land.
A number of regulations ensure that the park's thriving aquatic life remains healthy. Zones divide the area according to acceptable uses. For instance, commercial fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
is forbidden in certain places to prevent overfishing
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans....
. The reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
s are protected from damage by 36 permanently anchored buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s where boats can moor. And scuba divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
are not permitted to dive by themselves; they must dive with guides from one of Saba's three dive shops. Protecting the Saba National Marine Park is not only an environmental concern, it's also an economic concern. Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
currently brings in more money to the island than any other industry, and the Saba National Marine Park is the biggest tourist draw.
Aside from the fact that Saba's reefs have remained healthy, several natural formations attract divers to the marine park. A few features were formed through volcanic activity, such as the Pinnacles. These peaks rise up to 100 feet (30 m) from the ocean floor, covered with corals, sponges, and other invertebrates. In the Ladder Bay area, a natural labyrinth was created by flowing lava. Other attractions include underwater caves, tunnels, and rock walls.
Many different species of life inhabit the Saba National Marine Park. Soft corals abound, while hard corals live only in the waters on the island's east side. Types of fish found in the park include parrotfish
Parrotfish
Parrotfishes are a group of fishes that traditionally had been considered a family , but now often are considered a subfamily of the wrasses. They are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, but with the largest species richness in the Indo-Pacific...
, blue tang
Blue tang
Paracanthurus hepatus is a species of Indo-Pacific surgeonfish. A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus...
, black durgon, and barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
. Shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s and stingray
Stingray
The stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
s frequent certain areas. Octopus
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
, turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s, and spiny lobster
Spiny lobster
Spiny lobsters, also known as langouste or rock lobsters, are a family of about 45 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia...
make the park their home also.
Saba's residents may access the park for free, while visitors pay $3 (US) per dive (in addition to dive shop diving fees). The park fee supports maintenance of the park and its equipment.