WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao is set to be indirectly affected by new international nature policies currently being established at a United Nations conference on migratory species, with potential implications for marine conservation in the region.
According to a letter from Minister Jaimi van Essen to the Dutch Parliament, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is participating in the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS). The Netherlands is representing not only itself, but also Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten.
For Curaçao, the developments are particularly relevant as the island has been identified as a habitat for migratory species such as hammerhead sharks and thresher sharks. This designation means that international agreements on the protection of these species will directly influence regional and local policies.
The conference comes at a time of growing global concern over declining wildlife populations. Recent data indicate that nearly half of migratory species populations are decreasing, while around a quarter face the threat of extinction. These trends are driving efforts to strengthen international protections.
During the conference, the Netherlands is advocating for the expansion of protected species lists, the development of new action plans for species such as sharks and eels, and stricter regulations to reduce bycatch in fisheries. There is also increasing caution regarding deep-sea mining due to its potential impact on marine ecosystems.
For Curaçao, this means that international decisions are likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping local environmental policy, particularly in areas such as fisheries management and marine conservation.
As global agreements evolve, local authorities may need to adapt regulations to align with international commitments, highlighting the growing connection between global environmental governance and regional ecosystems.