ST. EUSTATIUS — Construction has officially begun on the expansion of STENAPA’s marine laboratory, located at the King’s Well National Parks Centre.
The upgraded facility will serve as the permanent home for STENAPA’s sea urchin restoration project, carried out under the Nature and Environment Policy Plan (NEPP).
Once completed, the expanded laboratory will provide the specialised infrastructure needed to culture long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) from larvae through to juveniles. The urchins will then be placed back onto the reef, where they play a vital role as grazers, keeping algae growth under control and creating better conditions for coral growth and recovery.
STENAPA officials describe the development as an important step forward in strengthening coral reef restoration capacity on Statia.
