SCF Semiannual Report 2011.Pdf
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- 1 - Table of Contents Executive Summary A Financial 4 B Staffing 4 C Infrastructure 5 D Education 8 E Research & Monitoring 8 Monthly Progress Reports January 1.1 Guadeloupe Symposium 10 February 2.1 Saba Bank Fishermen’s Meeting 10 2.2 Hyperbaric Chamber Meeting at the Medical School 10 2.3 SCF Management Meeting 11 2.4 Saba Bank Enforcement Meeting 11 2.6 Saba Tourism Strategic Plan 12 2.7 SCF Board Meeting 12 2.8 Installation of Weather Monitoring Gauges 12 2.9 DCNA Tropic Bird Monitoring Course 13 March 3.1 Canadian Volunteers 14 3.3 Hyperbaric Chamber Meeting 16 3.4 DCNA Communication Expert Workshop Bonaire 16 3.5 DCNA Executive Board Meeting 16 3.6 Fort Bay Weather Station 16 3.7 Protocol for Dive Accidents 17 April 4.1 Trail Cleaner’s Meeting 18 4.2 Bus Driver’s License 18 4.3 School Presentations 18 4.4 DCNA Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Course 18 4.5 CARMABI Invasive Species Study 20 - 2 - 4.6 Biodiversity Monitoring Meeting Bonaire 20 4.7 Earth Day Activities 20 4.8 Kadaster Re-measuring of Park Boundaries 21 4.9 Saba Monitoring Priorities Meeting 21 4.10 Meeting with Chief of Police 22 May 5.1 Reception by the Representative of the National Government 22 5.3 Molly Moran Internship 23 5.5 Day of Biodiversity Hike 24 5.4 Lionfish Capture Reports 24 5.6 DCNA Board Meeting St. Eustatius 25 5.7 SCF Board – RCN: Saba Bank Management Unit Meeting 26 5.8 IVN/SCF Educational Program Cooperation 26 June 6.1 ‘Raad Onderwijs en Arbeidsmarkt” 26 6.2 Proposed “SNMP No Fish Trap Zone” 27 6.3 Honey Bee Crisis 29 6.4 DCNA Monitoring Workshop 30 6.6 After School Programs 31 6.7 SSS Regatta 32 6.8 School Presentations 32 July 7.1 Child Focus Summer School 32 7.2 Shearwater Monitoring 33 7.3 Saba Bird Monitoring Guide for iTunes 34 7.4 Saba Executive Council Members inspect National Marine Park 35 7.5 Setup of Sab Bank Fish Catch Survey 36 7.6 Saba Bank Management Unit 36 8. List of Acronyms 37 - 3 - Executive Summary A Financial There have been numerous challenges facing the SCF during the first half of 2011. On July 7th, the independent auditors, Ernest & Young, submitted the financial statements for 2010. Although there was a notable performance improvement over 2009, the impairment of the hyperbaric chamber impacted negatively on the overall result as outlined on the balance sheet for 2010. The internally circulated profit & loss sheet for the first half of 2011 is also not indicating much progress. However, the current cash flow problem is a consequence of overdue receivables, because in some cases the nature and dive fees are still outstanding for 2010. Therefore, the present statement is not reflecting the final income generation of the foundation for these months. Hence, it is recommended that a late fee system, as provided for in the Marine Environment Ordinance A.B. 1987, number 10, article 13, paragraph 5, be implemented. There should also be incentives for businesses submitting their fees before the 10th of the following month. There are further issues with regards to super yacht agents supposedly collecting the nature fees for the SCF (fees for Motor Yacht A of Hamilton Yachts LTD, Bermuda, on 16th January 2011 and Mirabella V of Southampton, UK, on April 21st, 2011 have not yet been received). Additionally, although treated as cash, it takes about a month for foreign checks received to clear, which also impedes on the SCF cash flow. Thus, it has to be decided if the SCF should continue to accept foreign checks. On June 13th, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent a letter to the Friends of the Saba Conservation Foundation (FSCF), notifying that the organization’s (501)(C) (3) tax-exempt status has been revoked automatically, because it hasn’t filed for 3 years. We intend to reapply for the tax-exempt status, but means need to be found to revive the FSCF and find a new representative in the United Sates. B Staffing Numerous staff shortages during the past year affected the operations of the foundation. Besides Sue Hurrell’s approved prolonged leave of absence from December 20th, 2010 to March 25th, 2011, there were a number of family emergencies requiring staff to accompany their relatives for medical treatment overseas for several weeks (e.g. Gia Robinson, May 30th to June 12th). With permission from the Lieutenant Governor, James Johnson was sent to Colombia on July 5th, to assist his wife’s sister during surgery and recovery and has up to now not returned. On August 8th, the SCF received a doctor’s note from the Island Government’s Personnel Office, informing that Mr. Johnson’s leave has been sanctioned with full compensation. This situation is unacceptable and has serious consequences on the capacity and functioning of the SCF in fulfilling its mandate. Other staff have to take on the responsibilities of the trail ranger, e.g. supervising community work and guiding hikes, creating a void in their usual scope of work. The issue is being exacerbated due to outstanding compensation for 25 workdays owed to Mr. Johnson for supervising convicts, assigned by the Public Prosecutor to do community work on weekends. - 4 - Mr. Johnson applied for retirement when reaching 60 years of age on August 24th. The Island Government approved the request, but the pension is not deemed adequate, thus Mr. Johnson asked to continue working until the age of 65. It was agreed that Mr. Johnson will be working as an employee of the SCF and his salary is going to be subsidized by the Island Government, as of September 1st. Furthermore, the deceased trail cleaner Robbert Newnam has not been replaced yet, hence some of the prominent trails under the auspices of the SCF are in dire need of maintenance. The trails serviced by Mr. Newnam were advertised locally and 2 bids have been received for evaluation and approval by the Board. All other trail cleaning contracts were renewed on April 4th, although there has not been any response by the Island Government with regards to the request for a compensation increase. Generally, due to sharply increased living costs on Saba, there is need to review the salaries of all staff, especially the Ranger positions. Since Mrs. Evette Peterson’s resignation as trail Shop Administrator in October of 2010, the position has not been filled. However, a staff rotation system has proven workable, maintaining the usual opening hours, with assistance of interns and volunteers, who have been assigned to the Trail Shop. The savings from the elimination of that position could be utilized for a modest salary increase for the rangers, pending performance appraisals. C Infrastructure C.1 Marine The moorings in the marine park have been maintained regularly, but anchors are still missing at Abraham’s Hole (David’s Drop Off red), Cove Bay and the barrels at Diamond Rock (red) have to be replaced. It has been difficult to rely on the assistance of volunteers in installing new mooring anchors, because of their lack of experience and routine, it puts other divers and themselves at risk. A parks exchange for the drilling of moorings as conducted in November of 2010 with the Nature Foundation on St. Maarten is more feasible, but has to be planned well in advance and requires outside funding. - 5 - New Dock & Ramp at Fort Bay Attempts were made with the large 1-ton lift bags owned by the foundation and the assistance of Caribbean Explorer to relocate the old barrels, but the system is outdated and doesn’t hold larger vessels anymore, which are dragging the barrels across the sea floor. The Island Government promised assistance in placing new cement blocks, but the project has not been forthcoming up to now. The SCF patrol vessel “Lady Rebecca” has been serviced every 100 running hours and is in good condition, except some electrical design problems (failing cable connection of switches through the inaccessible hull of the boat to the engines, leaking engine mount seals and corroded zinc bolts). The starboard side engine cover was damaged by a former employee of Sea Saba during a docking maneuver, but hasn’t been replaced or fixed yet. The cover of the engine suffered minor damage and a replacement is not of any urgency. The new dock at Fort Bay harbor, which was inaugurated on July 26th, utilizing the SCF patrol boat for a first test for the new ramp, is ideal for our purposes. The tourist office received an email from Mr. Richard van der Kraan, offering assistance in acquiring an Dutch Navy vessel to be sunk as a wreck in Saban waters. Mr. van der Kraan, stated that the Dutch Ministry of Defense (MoD) has to cut down expenses in the total amount of 1 billion Euros. According to the plans of the MoD, they are decommissioning planes, tanks and ships. Among the ships there is a large old supply vessel called “Zuiderkruis”. HNLMS Zuiderkruis Because Mr. van der Kraan works for the MoD, he already contacted the department responsible for disposing the Zuiderkruis and he found out that at this moment there are no plans for the Zuiderkruis. The specs of the vessel are as follows: Class and type: Auxiliary Replenishment Ship Displacement: 16,900 tons Length: 170 m Beam: 20 m Speed: 21 knots Complement: 170-190 (persons) - 6 - The SCF sent a letter of support for the project to the tourist office on July 7th.