St Barth: State of our Oceans For the future generations: the Territorial Environment Agency (ATE), a public and commercial establishment launched in 2013, is here to look after the conservation of St Barth and the ocean. By LOÏC PINTO
Parley for the Oceans and Doug Aitken have partnered together to denounce the consequences of pollution on our coastline. With his Underwater Pavillion, the American artist is aiding the remarkable work of ATE (the Territorial Environment Agency), the environmental agency of St Barth, in order to raise awareness about environmental concerns among the island locals and communicate with the international community. Our landscape and seas is an environment that sparks hope. But it needs to be protected. The new report, developed from decades of research, may strike concern in the heart of even the most optimistic people. One thing is for certain: human activity and our relationship with the oceans around the island are affecting the ecosystem and change is needed. It appears than 67% of vertebrates have disappeared from the local ecosystem. The situation in the coral reef, a vital part of the wellbeing of submarine life, is reason for alarm. However, through ATE, voices on St Barth have criticised the 120
statement in the report that the local fish population is below the regional standards, including in the protected marine areas. It is rather the case that St Barth has a diverse and populated set of ecosystems. In 2015, more than 1069 aquatic species were inventoried, including 166 semi-aquatic species, 51 coral species (one of the richest sites in the Caribbean Sea) and 561 terrestrials (fundamental to St Barth in 2014). Our Caribbean gem suffers from some well known problems: urban sprawl, invasive species (goats, cats, striped lizards), pollution (plastic, chemicals, noise pollution), erosion, climate change, the collapse of the living environment, and the risks of overfishing. Despite the measures taken on the island to preserve the ecosystems here, the situation is of serious concern for everyone. Local participants campaiging and raising awareness on these key issues have already found positive approaches to our ecological problems. Although there are numerous local and international actors who strongly wish to derail these efforts, local government and regional organizations can play part
