The waters off the south coast of Sint Maarten are now on a global specialist map for shark conservation. The Sint Maarten Insular Shelf was recognized as Important Shark and Ray Area, ISRA for short. After 721news Caribbean Shark Coalition welcomes the decision as an important step for endangered sharks and rays in the Caribbean.
ISRAs are used as part of the IUCN-SSC Shark Specialist Groupprocess identified. They are not new protected areas in the legal sense. However, the recognition marks places that are particularly important for sharks, rays or chimeras throughout individual life phases and should therefore be given greater consideration in management, marine marine spatial planning and protective measures.
Small area with great importance
The new ISRA covers around 72.76 square kilometers and extends from the surface to a depth of 300 meters. It overlaps the existing Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area off the south coast of the island. This makes an area internationally visible that is already known locally as an ecologically important marine area.
The classification was based on three criteria of the ISRA standard: vulnerability, reproductive area and resting area. What was decisive was not a single spectacular sighting, but almost a decade of field work by Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, Beneath the Waves, Operation Swimway Caribbean and other partners.
Which species are affected
The Sint Maarten Insular Shelf supports a community of endangered sharks and rays. Among others, the endangered Caribbean reef shark, the endangered white-spotted eagle ray and the potentially endangered tiger shark are mentioned. This mix is particularly interesting for shark diving because it includes both reef-bound species and larger, more mobile predators.
Between 2018 and 2024, research-based expeditions documented multiple shark and ray species along the southern island shelf. Ultrasound examinations confirmed late pregnancy in mature females. At the same time, juvenile sharks were repeatedly observed. Together, this suggests that the shallower waters serve as a breeding and early development area.
Why a ISRA does not replace a protected area
What is important is the sober classification: A ISRA alone does not bring any new bans or automatic enforcement on the water. It is a scientifically tested signal. This gives governments, marine conservation managers and communities a clearer basis for where protection, monitoring and use need to be planned particularly carefully.
This separation is particularly important for slow-growing sharks. Many species reach sexual maturity late, have few young and only recover slowly from additional fishing pressure. When an area simultaneously exhibits pregnancy, juveniles, and recurring residency patterns, it is not just a beautiful dive site, but a biological hub.
What this means for Sint Maarten
The recognition comes in a region where sharks are also economically visible. Healthy shark and ray populations contribute to the stability of reef ecosystems and are a value for responsible marine tourism. For an island like Sint Maarten, which relies heavily on coast, sea and visitor traffic, this can be a strong argument for more concrete management.
Tadzio Bervoets of Caribbean Shark Coalition, lead author of the ISRA submission, sees the recognition as a milestone for Sint Maarten and the wider Caribbean. His message is clear: local field work has shown that these waters are not only beautiful, but play a functional role for endangered species. Now recognition must become permanent protection.
A building block for Caribbean shark protection
The new designation emerged from the 2026 regional process for the North American and Caribbean Atlantic. This is important because sharks and rays do not recognize political boundaries. A reef shark can remain loyal to a local reef, whereas a tiger shark can travel long distances. Protection therefore works best when local data is incorporated into regional planning.
For shark diving, the news is, above all, a reminder that underwater encounters are part of larger life cycles. When dive sites support pregnant females, juveniles and returning animals, they need more than attention. They need reliable monitoring, clear rules, respectful tourism and a policy that takes scientific maps seriously.
