~ And a small but significant step towards self-reliance for St. Maarten ~
Dear Editor,
I developed a twofold project, which I want to propose to the incoming government. The first part entails a cleaning and beautification project for both sides of the island, which I believe will expose covered lands and provide a clean and beautiful environment for all to enjoy and maintain. This project requires collaboration between the governments of the Dutch and French sides of the island.
The project entails removing and recycling all heavy equipment, vehicles, steel materials, zinc, boulders, and piles of dirt. A joint venture of the two governments will see the entire island rid of all wrecks and debris from public roads, business places, private residences, and properties, free of charge. All residents will be required to cooperate with the project. All rubber, plastic, wood, and other ocean-non-environmentally-friendly materials are removed and disposed of at the relevant dump sites.
Funding for the Dutch side of this project can be requested from the National Recovery Program Project, St. Maarten, under the Emergency Debris Management Project.
The heavy equipment such as discarded cranes, back-hoes and such, will be sunk under the sea and welded together, and used to create an artificial reef, which is anchored to the mainland and will rise above the sea level and create a perfect environment for corals to grow on, and for sea life to form around it. And above the sea level birds can rest and nest on the exterior of the reef. Coral reef organisms grow well on steel structures, although some are concerned that iron and other limiting nutrients will favor algal or bacterial growth. Purposefully-sunk wrecks do require environmental and safety preparations before being deployed.
Providing that proper environmental preparation is completed first, these structures can give incredible biodiversity in otherwise barren seascapes. An ideal artificial reef is stable in ordinary to large storms, made from long-lasting, solid, non-toxic materials, designed to have a high surface complexity for the recruitment of corals, sponges, and other organisms, designed to provide a high amount of structural complexity for fish and other animals, and designed to either blend in with the natural reef or to stand out and convey a message (sculptures and other art creations).
The construction of the artificial reef is the creation of food sources for sea-life, and by extension, for humans. The interior of the artificial reef will be filled up with the rest of the debris, boulders, and piles of dirt, which will create land for the second phase of this project, which is the establishment of a fishery. The chosen location for the creation of the artificial reef is Back Bay, in Point Blanche. There is an existing road leading to the discarded basketball court that leads to the ocean. The construction of the fishery will not impede on zoning laws, as noise pollution from the fishery is not an issue.
“All around the world, cities are edging further into the sea.” Source: www.bbc.com. “As one of the most densely populated nations, the low-lying Netherlands has long been driven to reclaim large swatches of its coastal swamps and marshes to house its ever-growing population.”
St. Maarten will implement an eco-friendly method of debris disposal and land reclamation. The World Bank policies on vigorous safeguard instruments developed to mitigate all foreseeable social and environmental risks will be implemented in this project.
The second phase of this project is designed to be an eco-friendly economic development project owned by the government of St. Maarten. By owning and operating the fishery, the government and the people will be the direct beneficiaries. The benefits are a viable, sustainable seafood source, direct income for the government, a small step towards self-reliance, and the commencement of a self-sustained St. Maarten.
It is not uncommon for governments to own businesses. The government owns the harbor, the airport, and the utility company. Aside from ownership of its harbor, airport, and utility company, the government of Aruba owns and operates the Archaeological Museum of Aruba, the Bon Bini Festival, and the Renaissance Island, and the government of Curaçao owns its harbor, airport, the oil refinery, the utility company, the Grot van Hato, and the Sint Christoffel Park. The benefit of direct ownership is added because of the direct income for the government (income from sales and taxes). The core values of this project are sealife creation, and maintenance, sustainable economic development, quality, and price control (think of a calamity, or such).
By owning the fishery, the government has full control of pricing and distribution. The fishery will help generate funds for some of the government’s development projects. The construction of the fishery provides a viable and sustainable income, work opportunities, year-round production of plastic-free seafood, self-reliance, self-sustainability, and community empowerment. Included in the concept is a public fishing ground and recreational area.
The abundant seawater makes aquaponics seafood farming viable and affordable in St. Maarten. Funding for the construction of the fishery can be requested from the United Nations Office for Project Services, Department of Nutrition: Scaling Up Nutrition, amongst others. The vision for the project is to provide St. Maarten and the neighboring islands with a viable and sustainable source of aqua-cultured-farmed, fresh, plastic-free seafood. The mission is to provide year-round, high-quality seafood at reasonable prices.
Tropic Seafood is a similar company based in Nassau, Bahamas. The company farms and sells whole spiny lobsters, lobster tails, stone crab claws, Bahamian conch, and Lane Red Snapper: Av. 1.5 lb./2 lb. ready for the market in one year. They also farm and sell Lane Red Snapper fingerlings (baby Red Snappers). In a statement, Tropic Seafood wrote, “Due to the small market size in the Bahamas, the goal is to sell most fish overseas as a fresh product to destinations such as the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe.”
Product summary
The fishery to be established in St. Maarten will farm Shrimp, Red Snapper, and Red Tilapia for wholesale to the local and neighboring markets. Shrimp and Red Snapper are well known and enjoyed by the locals and visitors to the island and are in high demand. Red Tilapia resembles the Red Snapper and produces high-quality meat at a lesser cost.
Competition
The fishery will be the first of its kind in the western Caribbean. The island of Nassau, Bahamas, in the eastern Caribbean has the Tropic Seafood factory, a large-scale land-based fish farm, and an ocean-based conch farm. This is the only large-scale commercial seafood production farm in the Caribbean. There is no other direct competition for the foreseeable future. Numerous islands in the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago, practice freshwater fish farming.
Operational plan
The company will produce Shrimp, Red Snapper, and Red Tilapia for wholesale. The plan is to supply the local market first.
Outlook
Considering that the fishery will offer fresh and healthy seafood products of high quality year-round, the market is expected to embrace this new business concept.
Conclusion
The fishery is a new seafood farm and sale approach that is sustainable, healthy, fresh, and sumptuous. The income from this project alone will not eliminate the financial situation of the country. It will, however, be a small step towards national development and contribute to new income for the government. This new income will provide the opportunity for the government to have sustainable funds for its projects, and to have a new avenue for income versus only taxation.
When making plans for the prosperity of a nation, the first rule is to provide income for expenses. The clean-up campaign, construction of the artificial reef, and construction and opening of the fishery can be documented and placed on YouTube to spotlight the island. All episodes include interviews with government officials, partners, and stakeholders.
It is the intention to propose the project to the government. The project developer donates the project concept and the Draft Business Plan to the government of St. Maarten. The government hires the project developer for the development of the project.
When the new government takes office, I will request a meeting with the Council of Ministers to make a PowerPoint presentation and present a Draft Business Plan, detailing all aspects of this project. A step towards self-reliance, self-sustainability, and financial independence is a step toward a solid and secure tomorrow. We don’t have to be self-sufficient in everything. Just in something(s) worthwhile!
Louis Engel
Project Developer
