Bonaire National Marine Park - MAINTENANCE

At first thought, one might wonder what maintenance is required in a Marine Park – after all, as long as humans respect the undersea environment, the reefs maintain themselves as they have done for thousands of years.

The materials and equipment used to support the manner in which humans respect the marine environment, however, often require maintenance.

Moorings:

• Rangers check more than 100 Bonaire National Marine Park public moorings periodically. Lines are replaced and buoys repainted with the site name on a bright yellow background several times a year.
• Currently, the BNMP is replacing its original double-barrel public moorings with a remarkable pin-type unit that was designed precisely for a mixed substrate like Bonaire’s. The Helix pins (more information is available at www.helixmooringsystems.com) are much easier to install and require less space than traditional moorings, since they’re essentially screwed into the bottom. They give the BNMP more flexibility in mooring placement as well.

Other maintenance:

• The markers for more than sixty shore diving sites, which are stones painted with the site name on a bright yellow background, placed for the convenience of Bonaire’s shore divers, are checked regularly for correct placement and a fresh appearance.
• Back at the Barcadera offices, spare mooring buoys and marker rocks are kept ready by Rangers and volunteers, so that replacements are able to be made quickly.

- The BNMP is responsible for the maintenance of the Barcadera building, which houses all the STINAPA offices.
- The BNMP boats, patrol cars, engines, and all other equipment are maintained on a regular basis.