Yarari
The Caribbean is known as a biodiversity hotspot partly because of its high marine biodiversity. For this reason, the 'Yarari Reserve' for marine mammals, sharks, and stingrays was established. This reserve covers the entire EEZ of the Caribbean Netherlands.
'Yarari' is a Taíno Indian word meaning 'a pleasant place'. The reserve should provide a safe haven for whales, dolphins, sharks, and stingrays. Through (regional) research, efforts are being made to increase knowledge about these species in order to better protect them. This involves cooperation with the 'sister reserves' of France and the US with which the Ministry signed memorandums of understanding, respectively the Agoa marine mammal reserve, and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Here you can find a special Bionews edition of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance about the Yarari reserve.