Le IFRECOR local committee Saint-Martin, 10th locally, met last month to finalize priority actions intended to protect the Coral reefs, the herbaria and the mangroves of the territory. A session marked by a clear call from Prefect Cyrille Le Vely to “get down to brass tacks,” while The state of marine ecosystems continues to deteriorate rapidly..
Around the table: State services, Local authority, Conservatory, Nature Reserve and partners. They all share the same observation: The Saint-Martin coastline is experiencing a silent crisisOf the eight reef monitoring stations, none are in good condition. Coral cover has fallen to 6%. Algae dominate, sea urchins disappear, and young corals struggle to re-establish themselves.The mangroves have lost almost half their area since the 1950s, further weakening the island during cyclone episodes.
Multiple causes, shared urgency
The causes are cumulative: two successive episodes of abnormally high marine temperatures, proliferation of Sargassum, chronic pollution, increased use of water sports in the Nature Reserve (270 applications for work at sea from 90 companies), recession of the coastline and real estate pressure. “We are fortunate to be by the sea, but we also know how fragile this environment is,” the prefect reminded, stressing the importance of sanitation and the responsibility of each owner.
An action plan to reverse the trend
For Saint-Martin, IFRECOR represents a structuring framework. Created in January 2024The local committee has already established a a plan of 26 actions, 16 of which are considered prioritiesCoral restoration, habitat mapping, enhanced monitoring, control of invasive species, coastal management, and public awareness campaigns: there are many construction sitesThe approved action plans should allow the first operations to begin as early as 2026, with technical and financial support from the national network.
The next step will take place in November 2026 with the publication of the national reef health reportUntil then, Saint-Martin must prove its ability to halt the collapse of its ecosystems.
Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/environnement-recifs-en-danger-un-comite-determine-a-agir-a-saint-martin/
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