MAN OF WAR SHOAL MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2011 Man of War Shoals Marine Park Management Plan Man of War Shoals Marine Management Plan 2011 Duncan MacRae, Director. Nature Foundation St. Maarten 22 Rosemundy, St Agnes, Cornwall, UK PO Box 863, Philipsburg, St Maarten. [email protected] www.cozm.co.uk [email protected] www.naturefoundationsxm.or g ii Man of War Shoals Marine Park Management Plan Contents 1 SINT MAARTEN: BACKGROUND INFORMATION. ............................. 13 1.1 History and Culture..................................................................................................................................................16 History ................................................................................................................................................................................16 Culture ................................................................................................................................................................................19 1.2 Population..................................................................................................................................................................20 1.3 Economics..................................................................................................................................................................22 Economic development ......................................................................................................................................................23 1.4 Climate.......................................................................................................................................................................25 1.5 Geology and Geomorphology ..................................................................................................................................28 1.6 Oceanography ...........................................................................................................................................................29 1.7 Terrestrial Habitats, Flora and Fauna....................................................................................................................31 1.8 Marine habitats, flora and fauna.............................................................................................................................33 Open Water.........................................................................................................................................................................35 Seabed - Seagrass ...............................................................................................................................................................37 Seabed – Sand and Algae ...................................................................................................................................................39 Seabed – Coral reefs ...........................................................................................................................................................40 Species of Interest...............................................................................................................................................................47 1.9 Human use of the Marine Environment .................................................................................................................49 Tourism and recreation.......................................................................................................................................................49 Fisheries..............................................................................................................................................................................50 Shipping..............................................................................................................................................................................50 1.10 References..................................................................................................................................................................51 2 MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT........................................................ 52 2.1 The Man of War Shoal Marine Park ......................................................................................................................54 2.2 Statement of Significance and Values .....................................................................................................................55 Statement of significance....................................................................................................................................................55 A summary of values associated with Man of War Shoal Marine Park..............................................................................56 2.3 Vision, Mission and Goals........................................................................................................................................58 2.4 Stakeholders ..............................................................................................................................................................59 2.5 Stakeholder Input .....................................................................................................................................................60 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................60 Meeting Feedback...............................................................................................................................................................61 2.6 Uses of MOWS MPA................................................................................................................................................64 2.7 Governance................................................................................................................................................................66 Board ..................................................................................................................................................................................66 Institutional arrangements ..................................................................................................................................................66 Legal Framework .................................................................................................................................................................67 relevant legislative and policy tools....................................................................................................................................67 iii Man of War Shoals Marine Park Management Plan Permits................................................................................................................................................................................68 Rules and guidelines...........................................................................................................................................................69 2.8 Physical Resources....................................................................................................................................................71 Mooring programme details................................................................................................................................................72 2.9 Human Resources .....................................................................................................................................................73 2.10 Issues..........................................................................................................................................................................74 Global issues and natural disasters .....................................................................................................................................74 Current Management issues................................................................................................................................................76 Current ‘external’ issues .....................................................................................................................................................77 Summary of issues..............................................................................................................................................................80 3 MANAGEMENT PLAN ....................................................................... 81 Key Issues and Actions.......................................................................................................................................................83 Work schedule for 2010/2011.............................................................................................................................................88 Planned Activities...............................................................................................................................................................92 3.1 Recommendations.....................................................................................................................................................97 APPENDIX: FEES STRUCTURE PROPOSAL NATURE FOUNDATION ........ 100 1 WILLINGNESS TO PAY SURVEYS .................................................