It was a remarkable achievement in 1979. The Bonaire National Marine Park — which covers the entire coastline from the high-water mark to a depth of 200 feet and a large mangrove forest in Lac Bay — was the first of its kind in the Caribbean. By the time the nearly 7,000-acre park was established 40 years ago, Bonaire was already making a mark in nature conservation and ecological responsibility. The Stichting Nationale Parken foundation — better known as STINAPA — was formed more than 50 years ago, in 1962. Today, STINAPA’s message and mission remain unchanged: We recognize Bonaire’s valuable natural resources and we are dedicated to managing and protecting them.

Bonaire’s marine park is a model for the rest of the world. The island’s stewardship has helped to make it home to eight of the 10 fishiest reefs in the Tropical Western Atlantic/Caribbean region, according to Reef Environmental Education Foundation founder Ned and Anna DeLoach. Since 2012, island dive operators have been working with the Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire to regrow the island’s elkhorn and staghorn corals. During the sea turtle nesting season, the Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire group ensures the protection of the endangered turtles’ nests. Bonaire has more than 70 moored dive sites. The island was an early adopter of the practice; anchoring is not allowed in the marine park.

“The ocean is the lifeblood of our world.”

You’d be hard-pressed to name a destination as deeply committed to ocean conservation as Bonaire. With protection of nature as a cornerstone of the island’s sustainable tourism policies, the island’s economic development plan is built on sustainability — 40% of the island uses clean energy. Bonaire’s recognition of the importance of its water resources even extends to its flag, where the blue represents the pure waters. This robust, strictly enforced protection is why the island has won a number of Scuba Diving Readers Choice awards, including 26 consecutive first-place honors for best shore diving in the region. It has also led to the Blue Destination initiative.

A BLUE DESTINATION

Bonaire announced a public private partnership program focused on sustainability, which will culminate in October 2019 when the island will declare that it is the world’s first-ever Blue Destination. It is an initiative that Bonaire hopes will succeed beyond its shores.

What is a Blue Destination? It is based on the World Bank concept of the “Blue Economy.” A blue destination would specifically commit to the sustainable use of ocean resources in pursuit of conscientious social and economic development.

On June 8, 2018, in celebration of World Oceans Day, Bonaire announced its goal of becoming the world’s first Blue Destination. The initiative seeks to raise awareness in the field of sustainability, in order to benefit the island’s nature, economic development and preservation of its heritage and culture — a culture that has always depended upon and been sustained by the ocean.

The initiative will shine a light on sustainability and help to unite shared causes, projects and goals, thus strengthening those efforts. The island will hold meetings, events and conferences focused on becoming a Blue Destination and encouraging sustainable use of ocean resources. Bonaire will launch a social media campaign, “What is Blue to You?”, and encourage citizens to use the hashtag #BonaireBlueDestination. Through these efforts, residents will be encouraged to become involved in the island’s conservation and marketing work.

BRIGHT (BLUE) FUTURE

Bonaire’s Blue Destination concept will foster economic growth that gives precedence to the sustainable use and conservation of its ocean’s resources. The island’s commitments include dive operators and hotels only selling reef-safe products, hotels replacing complimentary bottled water in single-use plastic containers with reusable water bottles that can be filled at public water fountains that will be installed around the island, and restaurants serving special “Blue Cuisine” dishes inspired by locally caught or locally grown seafood and agricultural products.

The goal is for the Blue Destination initiative — if fully embraced by its residents and visitors — to deliver a solid boost to the local economy by 2021, with additional increases expected by 2027.

As for Blue Destination’s long-term goal of having the idea spread beyond its shores? Look no further than Bonaire’s marine park, a shining example of what ocean conservation looks like in practice. It was a model the rest of the world has followed. The hope is that its Blue Destination initiative will also be adopted around the globe.