BACKGROUND
The Netherlands Antilles is a member of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean, and has ratified the SPAW Protocol (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife). The objective of this protocol is to protect ecosystems and habitats that are representative, have special value, or are critical to the survival and recovery of endangered and threatened species residing therein.
The Netherlands Antilles also recognize the priorities identified in the Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP) for the Wider Caribbean region, which was recently adopted by the Parties to the SPAW Protocol.
As mandated by the Central Government department of Nature and Environment (MINA), the Curacao Dolphin Academy/Sea Aquarium has been assisting in the observation and documentation of a variety of whale and dolphin species in the waters of Curacao since 2002.
While this work helped to confirm numerous species in these waters, and provided evidence of seasonal residency patterns among bottlenose dolphins; it also introduced tantalizing new questions. Such as: Where do these cetaceans travel after being sighted off Curacao? What is their genetic relatedness to other populations elsewhere in the Caribbean? What is their overall health? What sort of pollutants are they carrying in their bodies and tissues? What human activities might be having a negative effect on their health and behavior?
In order to address these and other questions, members of Dolphin Academy and MINA desired a means to take the research of local whales and dolphins to a higher level. To expand and enhance the body of knowledge regarding cetaceans in the Southern Caribbean, they realized a need for a focused and dedicated foundation capable of networking with other cetacean experts and marine laboratories.
Paul Hoetjes, senior advisor for MINA, had attended several conferences throughout the region as representative of the Netherlands Antilles to the United Nations Environmental Program for the Wider Caribbean including the meetings to develop the MMAP under the auspices of the SPAW Protocol. It was through these meetings that he had come to know Dr. John Reynolds, a world renowned expert on marine mammals and Chairman of the United States Marine Mammal Commission.
At a SPAW related conference in Antigua in September, 2008, (where the Marine Mammal Action Plan was adopted by all member nations of SPAW), Mr. Hoetjes and Dr. Reynolds discussed ongoing cetacean research in Curacao, and how programs might be developed on a larger scale. Dr. Hoetjes invited Dr. Reynolds to Curacao and proposed a meeting with his colleague at MINA Mr. Eric Newton, and Mr. George Kieffer of the Dolphin Academy/Sea Aquarium. The purpose was to review past and present research, and determine what direction was most feasible in advancing Curacao’s contributions to the field of cetacean studies.
That meeting took place in early October 2008 when Dr. John Reynolds visited Curacao along with a colleague from his base at Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida – Dr. Dana Wetzel, an expert marine toxicologist Both scientists were impressed with the facility, the quality of care of the dolphins, and the progress of the opportunistic cetacean sightings program. Along with the individuals mentioned above, they also met with Mr. Adriaan “Dutch” Schrier, founder, developer, and owner of the Sea Aquarium; and were excited about the possibilities the new Substation Curacao’ submarine would offer in terms of deep sea sediment sampling and testing, as well as other oceanographic research.
Ultimately, the visit served as the catalyst for this group of people to pursue an agenda establishing a respectable and professionally recognized organization dedicated to promoting knowledge, research, and protection of whales and dolphins worldwide; with an emphasis on the populations and habitats of the Southern Caribbean.
After months of hard work, the Southern Caribbean Cetacean Network (SCCN) was legally incorporated on April 2, 2009.