SCCN Board Member Gerald van Buurt was born in Curaçao in 1949 and studied biology at Groningen University in the Netherlands. In 1974 he obtained a M Sc in biology, with specialization in Aquatic microbiology and algae.  Back in Curaçao, he worked for the Curaçao Island Government at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Dienst LVV) where he was head of the Fisheries section.  During the years he published several fisheries reports and articles on Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD's).  Since the department was quite small, he became involved and acquired expertise in many other subjects as well; such as running the local zoo, CITES, plant diseases and invasive species. 

He has published “The Field guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire”, articles on amphibians and reptiles and educational materials such as a book on the local plant diseases in the Papiamentu language for use by local farmers and people cultivating ornamental plants.  He also has an interest in languages and has published a book and written an article on Ameridian words in the Papiamentu language.  He sees his participation in the SCCN as an opportunity to acquire knowledge about whales and dolphins, which lie outside of his field of previous experience, while contributing with some of his broad general knowledge about fisheries, the sea and Curaçao nature.