WILLEMSTAD - Minister Charles Cooper has announced a project for an underwater park in Curaçao, "The Curaçao Underwater Park," thanks to a collaboration between PROTEUS, CINEX, and the Government of Curaçao.
Cooper met with PROTEUS (the International Space Station of the Ocean) to discuss the project for an underwater park in Curaçao. PROTEUS aims to promote solutions and innovations to expedite ocean exploration, advance scientific discovery, and facilitate the connection between humanity and the sea. It does this by engaging the community through storytelling, providing immersive experiences, adventure, and education.
The Curaçao Underwater Park, similar to the "Marine Park Area" (MPA) on the southeast coast of Curaçao, is considered PROTEUS' initial site for its rich marine ecosystem in terms of biodiversity and accessibility to corals. In 2021, the team mapped the underwater area of the site in 3D and is working with the government of Curaçao and Carmabi, the manager of the MPA, to determine the exact location for PROTEUS.
The PROTEUS project is part of the same strategic framework as Curaçao's "Blue Bio-Economy," which aims to leverage the value of marine resources and promote sustainable economic growth. This project promotes the development and implementation of technology and innovative practices in the "blue bio-economy," with the goal of creating economic opportunities and strengthening Curaçao's competitive position in the international market.
In addition to construction and commercial work in the near future, the project will require a minimum of 25-40 employees, along with additional local advisors and service providers hired to support PROTEUS's continuous operations, creating an annual salary of approximately 2 to 3 million dollars.
Once the marine habitat is constructed and installed, it is expected that approximately 500 visitors will come to Curaçao annually for stays of several weeks to support research and activities related to PROTEUS. Curaçao will also benefit from increased visibility through PROTEUS's marketing efforts.