To download the report, Vermeij MJA (2012) Curacao State of the reef 2012 Carmabi (c)2012

Papiamentu follows english below

The coral reefs of Curaçao represent one of the best reef systems left in the Caribbean at present. However, this does not mean that these reef systems are doing well.  On the contrary: increased coastal development has resulted in pollution of near shore waters through the release of (untreated) sewage, nutrients and chemicals and overfishing represent some of the factors that have contributed to a near 20% decrease in the abundance of corals on the island in the last 25 years. Fish communities have been impacted similarly through uncontrolled fishing practices and Curacao presently holds an intermediate rank among Caribbean nations in terms of fish abundance. Coral reef systems provide the foundation for the island’s tourism and fishing industry and protect near shore developments against storms. Furthermore, healthy reefs prevent the rise of disease-causing bacteria in near shore waters preventing people, locals and visitors alike, from becoming ill. At the current rate of decline, coral reefs will have virtually disappeared around Curacao around the year 2060. Presently, it is estimated that Curaçaoan reefs bring in at least $1.6 million per kilometer per year through revenue from tourism, fishing and coastal protection alone. The decline of reefs will thus come with severe economic consequences for a recently formed country that finds itself still in a position to avert such catastrophe.

This report summarizes some of the information currently available to illustrate a potentially dark future for Curaçaoan reefs. Hopefully this report helps to illustrate some of the factors contributing to this decline so directed management strategies can be designed and put in place in order to maintain a unique aspect of Curaçao that makes it stand out in the region: its coral reefs.

The report can be downloaded by Vermeij MJA (2012) Curacao State of the reef 2012 Carmabi (c)2012

E refnan di koral di Kòrsou ta representá un di e mihó sistemanan di ref aún eksistente den Karibe. Sinembargo, esaki no ta nifiká ku ta bayendo bon ku e sistemanan di ref aki. Al kontrario: e kresementu den desaroyo di nos kostanan a bin ta resultá den sobrepeska i polushon di awanan kantu di kosta dor di bashamentu di awa di riol (no tratá), nutriente- i kímikonan. Esakinan ta algun di e faktornan ku a kontribuí na un bahada di kasi 20% den abundansia di koralnan rondó di nos isla den e delaster 25 añanan. Komunidadnan di piská a ser impaktá di forma similar dor di formanan di peska deskontrolá. Aktualmente, Kòrsou ta poseé un rango intermedio entre nashonnan karibense pa loke ta trata abundansia di piská. Sistemanan di refnan di koral ta proveé un fundeshi pa e indústrianan di turismo i peska riba nos isla i na mes momentu ta sòru pa protekshon di edifisionan i otro desaroyonan kantu di kosta kontra tormenta i/o orkan. Mas aleu, refnan salú ta prevení kresementu di bakterianan ku por kousa malesa den awanan kantu di kosta, loke en torno ta prevení hendenan, turistánan i hendenan lokal, ku ta uza nos laman di bira malu. Teniendo na kuenta e velosidat aktual di disminushon, e refnan di koral lo por disaparesé virtualmente rònt Kòrsou pa aña 2060. Aktualmente a ser balotá ku refnan di Kòrsou ta generá por lo menos 1.6 miyon dollar merikano pa kilometer pa aña djis kontando entradanan di turismo, peska i protekshon di kosta so. Disminushon di refnan ta trese pues konsekuenshanan ekonómiko severo pa e país resientemente formá aki ku ahinda ta den e posishon pa evitá un katástrofe di tal índole.

E reportahe aki ta resumí algun di e informashonnan aktualmente disponibel pa ilustrá e futuro potenshalmente skur di e refnan di Kòrsou. Ohalá e raportahe aki yuda ilustrá algun di e faktornan ku ta kontribuí na e disminushon aki di moda ku strategianan di maneho dirigí por ser diseñá i implementá pa di e forma aki mantené un aspekto úniko di Kòrsou ku ta laga e isla sobresalí den region: su refnan di koral.