IMARES researches and gives advice regarding integrated coastal zone management, management of the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, coral reef ecology, mangrove and seagrass restoration, and ecotoxicology.

On 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist as an entity within the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Curaçao and St. Maarten will become separate countries within the Kingdom, while Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire will be integrated into the country of the Netherlands, thereby retaining a special island status. The focus of IMARES projects in this area is on integrated coastal zone management, coral reef ecology and ecotoxicology.

In this dossier you can find news, backgrounds en results of our research in the tropics.

IMARES inspects coral on Saba Bank 2 Nov 2011 Researchers from IMARES, Wageningen University and NIOZ spent a week studying the ecology of the Saba Bank. » IMARES inspects coral on Saba Bank

Health status report of the Saba Bank 3 May 2011 IMARES Research shows that many large coral colonies have dead spots. A more positive result is that hardly any diseases were found on the corals. » Health status report of the Saba Bank » Cruise report: Saba Bank; health status 2010 » Study finds holes in Saba Bank coral - 4 May 2011 - Wereldomroep

Knowledge tropical seas joined in ‘AcroporaNet’ 28 March 2011  Dutch and Curaçaoan biologists who carry out their research in tropical seas are now joining forces in the knowledge platform ‘AcroporaNet’. » The Netherlands collates biological knowledge about tropical seas in the Scientific Platform ‘AcroporaNet’

Report: Assessment of Ramsar site - Lac Bonaire June 2010 Research concerning potential threats to the Ramsar Site, Lac Bonaire. The mangroves, seagrass beds and the reef, both inside and outside of the bay were visited. » Assessment of Ramsar site Lac Bonaire

Report: Biodiversity of the Saba Bank supports status of Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) March 2010 Biodiversity of the Saba Bank, one of the three largest atolls in the world, and one of the few areas in the Caribbean that is in a pristine condition. » Biodiversity of the Saba Bank