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The liveaboard crew monitored microplastics and removed 65lbs of waste from the ocean in St Martin.
The Explorer Ventures Fleet crew from Caribbean Explorer II participated in two events this month to fight plastic and rubbish in St Maarten’s waters. They collected 65lbs of waste from Great Bay, Phillipsburg, and assisted with a front-line plastic monitoring program called In-No-Plastic utilized by The Nature Foundation St Maarten.
Debris collection in Great Bay
Seasonal weather can contribute to ocean pollution when plastics and other debris travel by storm drain and empty into local waters. Recently after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Fiona impacted the island, an uptick in floating debris was noticed in Great Bay waters where Caribbean Explorer II docks. As part of the Fleet’s Dive Green® and Green Fins environmental management programs, the crew combatted the growing storm debris by conducting a clean-up and removing 65lbs of waste from the bay.
Plastic Debris Monitoring in St Maarten
The Caribbean Explorer II crew also joined The Nature Foundation St Maarten’s project In-No-Plastic. This program uses a variety of social and technical strategies to remove and reduce marine plastic litter. The crew was able to learn plastics removal methodologies and developing technologies from Europe and the Caribbean, which they can apply back on board. Additionally, the Caribbean Explorer II crew will continue to assist the foundation staff with ongoing monitoring and testing of ocean and lagoon water for microplastics. The biannual results from this water testing will show whether the amount of microplastics in the water reduces at the same rate as the microplastics, which are removed during community clean-ups. Given the increased focus on clean-ups and single-use plastic education during the In-No-Plastic project, the foundation hopes to see a reduction in both large and small pieces of plastic in St Maarten.
Thank you to everyone that took part in protecting the natural resources in St. Maarten!
The Nature Foundation St Maarten
The Nature Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization located on the island of Sint Maarten, in the heart of the Caribbean. We aim to preserve and enhance the natural environment of St. Maarten in the present moment and for generations to come through a variety of education, preservation, and research initiatives.
The Nature Foundation St. Maarten is proud to participate in the In-No-Plastic project, which uses a variety of social and technical strategies to remove and reduce marine plastic litter. This EU initiative runs from 2020 to 2023, focusing on innovative approaches toward the prevention, removal, and reuse of marine plastic litter.
Dive Green® Sustainability Management
Explorer Ventures Fleet is aware that as a global dive business, we depend on a fragile marine ecosystem that is increasingly threatened. The diving industry is at the forefront and it’s up to every diver to act as a steward of our environment. Therefore, we created our Dive Green Environmental Management Policy. This program identifies our Fleet’s potential environmental impacts in order to develop (and evolve) strategies that will help avoid, measure, adjust and ultimately minimize our footprint. This policy aims to ensure the long-term sustainably of coral reefs, recreational scuba diving, and local livelihoods.
