Last week was the final Tuesday street fair of the season for Mardis de Grand Case, and Les Fruits de Mer wrapped up the season with a presentation about Our Endemic Animals. You can get it from iCloud or download a PDF with presenter’s notes. It was another great year for us and we look forward to next year!

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For our second to last presentation during the Mardis de Grand Case this year, we take a look at some of the islands smaller residents—mostly insects—with Crazy Critters! You can view the presentation in iCloud or download a PDF with presenter’s notes.

On Tuesday we were presenting about iguanas at Mardi de Grand Case, both the Green Iguana that has colonized the island so extensively in the last 20 years and the Lesser Antillean Iguana that was lost so many years ago. If you missed, it, you can check out the presentation in iCloud and download a PDF with presenter’s notes.

Last week at Mardi de Grand Case we presented about the amazing anoles of St. Martin. These lizards are some of our most distinctive residents, including one species that is found nowhere else in the world. If you missed it, you can view the presentation in iCloud and download a PDF with presenter’s notes.

Les Fruits de Mer participated in a couple very nice events so far this week. On Sunday, we were at the opening of the Discovery Farm and Garden where we had free nature journals for kids to decorate and then take home so they could draw and document their nature sightings.

We also has a wetland-themed presentation at the Mardis de Grand Case street fair this week: Exploring St. Martin’s Wetlands. Lots of people stopped by to learn about local wetlands, why they are important to people and wildlife and three great places to visit and enjoy wetlands on the island. If you missed it, the presentation is on iCloud here and a PDF with presenters notes can be downloaded.

Les Fruits de Mer kicked off the Mardis de Grand Case season with a presentation about the explosion of butterflies we are experiencing right now. If you didn’t make it to our booth, you can check out the presentation here*. We also have a few photos of the booth, which is looking awesome this year. Seven weeks to go, so we’d better see you there one of these Tuesdays!

* Maybe. iCloud is in beta. Right now, I can see the presentation, but I don’t know how to show the slide notes, which is where the text is.

Update: Here is a PDF with the presenter’s notes.

Enjoy this great video footage of the 2014 Migratory Bird Festival from Mikael Bastide of Guadeloupe 1ère!

We had an awesome time at the preview event for Migratory Bird Festival 2014. We did the portable pond activity, went birdwatching and planned a bit to make sure everything goes smoothly. Here are some photos from Jenn Yerkes and Tim Chin. You should definitely be there on Saturday!

For more info about the event, visit the MBF page on our site or the event on Facebook.

Here are some photos from a recent excursion we made to two great birding sites, Étang de la Baie Lucas and Étang de la Barrière. It was a great time and we had a chance to see many migratory species as well as many year-round resident species. Heading to the first site early, I had a chance to see the morning light slowly illuminate the pond. Birds arrived throughout the time we were there, individually and in small groups. It was like hanging out at the airport, but better!

Les Fruits de Mer has had a Twitter account for a while, but moving forward, it will actually be updated in case you want to follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lesfruitsdemer

Les Fruits de Mer partnered with the Saint Martin Billfish Tournament this year to add some science, education and fun to the event. We analyzed the stomach contents of fish to better understand their feeding patterns, we shared information about the various species of billfish present in the waters around St. Martin, we kept the kids busy with marine life coloring and activity pages and we volunteered at the bar to raise money for wildlife education on the island.

Kids, fish guts, Marlin-o-Meter, wigs, pirates and red caps! Check it out:

If you missed the Endemic Animal Festival this year, or are interested in learning more about our locally and regionally endemic animals, you can download materials from this year’s event.

Basics about our endemics (PDF)
This document explains some basics about our endemic animals, including: What does endemic mean? Why do we have endemic animals? Why are endemic animals important? and more.

Endemic animal species posters (PDF)
This document includes pages focused on individual species that are endemic to St. Martin or our region on the species or subspecies level. 33 species are featured, including many familiar animals that are seen on the island.

Ten Reasons Why Caribbean Birds Matter – by BirdsCaribbean
An article featuring ten important jobs that birds do for man and nature in the Caribbean.

Bird Watch articles from The Daily Herald about endemic birds and the roles that birds play on the island:

More amazing photos of the Endemic Animal Festival held on April 27th at Seaside Nature Park. Follow along on the guided nature walk, check out the art activities and scope the exhibits through the eyes of photographer and Les Fruits de Mer member Marc Petrelluzzi.

The 2014 Endemic Animal Festival was lots of fun and we were excited to have so many people come to the event to learn about the very special animals that live only on our island and in our region. Below are some wonderful photos of the event from Les Fruits de Mer member Olivia Roudon.

The Endemic Animal Festival 2014 was made possible with the help our generous sponsors and their commitment to promoting wildlife education on St. Martin/St. Maarten. Thank you!

Aquatec Shop
Aquatec Shop has built a reputation for providing quality products, service, and repair for swimming pools and jacuzzis over 17 years in business on St. Martin. Known for the high caliber of their after-sale service and advice as well as their hardware and commercial materials, they are dedicated to catering to all the island’s spa and swimming pool needs.

Présente à Saint martin depuis 17 ans, Aquatec Shop doit sa réputation à la qualité des produits, le service et la réparation fournis pour des piscines et jacuzzis. Connu pour le haut niveau de leur service et leur conseil après-vente ainsi que leurs matériaux commercialisés, ils sont dédiés à servir tous les besoins de spa et piscine de l’île.
http://www.aquatec-shop.com

Caribbean Paddling
Located in Cul-de-Sac, Caribbean Paddling is an outdoor company founded in 2009. It offers kayak and paddle board rentals and tours to Pinel Island as well as kayak and paddle board rental and delivery. They are a partner with the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin and a partner for SnorkelFest 2014.
http://www.caribbeanpaddling.com
https://www.facebook.com/caribbeanpaddling

Delta Petroleum
Founded in 1985, Delta serves the Caribbean with superior performance diesel, gasoline and LPG meeting U.S. and European standards. Delta is a proud and growing member of the communities from the Virgin Islands to Martinique. Delta Petroleum is a corporate member of Les Fruits de Mer was a sponsor of Birds & Bugs 2013 and SnorkelFest 2014.
http://deltapetroleum.com

Hotel L’Esplanade
This hotel has established a cult following from guests that enjoy an authentic, luxurious, unpretentious and un-touristy Caribbean experience with a homey feel. Acknowledged by TripAdvisor as one of the Caribbean’s “Best Hidden Gems”, and more recently named #19 of the top 25 hotels in all of the Caribbean. Hotel L’Esplanade has been a benefactor member since 2013 and was a sponsor of the Migratory Bird Festival 2013 and Birds & Bugs 2013.
http://www.lesplanade.com
https://www.facebook.com/hotellesplanade

Healthy Iguana
The new veterinary office that provides your pets, including exotic pets, primary veterinarian needs, while also providing consultancy services to the public in general. Contact Dr. Jovan Halley at 524-2355 or [email protected].

Island Water World
Island Water World is a chain of marine stores serving Caribbean sailors and water sports enthusiasts for over forty years. Island Water World is also a corporate member of Les Fruits de Mer and a sponsor of SnorkelFest 2014.
http://www.islandwaterworld.com
https://www.facebook.com/Islandwaterworld

Island Water World est une chaine de magasins proposant du matériel pour la pratique des activités nautiques en Caraïbe depuis plus de 40 ans. Island Water World est membre de l’association Les Fruits de Mer.

TelEm Group
The Sint Maarten Telecommunications Group of Companies serves as an important pillar to the St. Maarten economy, providing a vital global link to one of the most cosmopolitan islands in the Caribbean. Services provided by the Telem Group of Companies include a full range of Fixed, Mobile, International telephony services, Local and International data services.
http://www.telemgroup.an

Aqua Mania Adventures
Aqua Mania Adventures is a one-stop vacation shop that offers departures to all destinations for day trips, all the toys for water sports and a professional and well established dive center. Strategically located at the Simpson Bay Resort marina, it has over 20 years experience in the customer service industry and friendly and reliable staff. These are the people to help you plan an unforgettable vacation.
https://www.stmaarten-activities.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aqua-Mania-Adventures/185482761488648

In-kind Sponsors

International Liquor and Tobacco Trading
ILTT is the largest Beer, Wine and Liquor wholesaler on St Maarten carrying more than 1,000 brands. We are a family owned business founded by Mr. Hippolyte Lédée in 1963, and an in-kind sponsor of the Endemic Animal Festival.

https://www.facebook.com/iltt.sxm

Beverages provided for the event include products from:

The Scuba Shop
Founded in 1993, The Scuba Shop has two locations: Captain Oliver’s Marina in Oyster Pond and their Simpson Bay store. They are the largest dive store in the Windward and Leeward islands and an in-kind sponsor of the Endemic Animal Festival.
http://thescubashop.net

On Saturday, Les Fruits de Mer members and Endemic Animal Festival volunteers converged on Seaside Nature Park for a preview-event for the upcoming Endemic Animal Festival. Our preview events are a mix of fun and planning. After an introduction to endemic animals and why we have them on St. Martin, we planned some of the activities and exhibits and did a test walk through the park, seeing many of our local endemics. Photos below by Binkie Van Es, Jenn Yerkes and Mark Yokoyama. See you on the 27th!

https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/events/
https://www.facebook.com/events/460990390671535/

Learn more about the Endemic Animal Festival on St. Martin/St. Maarten!

Who pays the birds? – St. Maarten News Network

Les Fruits de Mer Announce Endemic Animal Festival On April 27th – SXM Island Time

Ne manquez pas le festival des animaux endémiques de Saint-Martin – SXMinfo.com

1er Festival des Animaux Endémiques de l’île de Saint-Martin le 27 Avril – SXMinfo.com

Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival asks: “who pays the birds?” – SXM Island Time

First St. Martin Endemic Animal Festival Proves Wildly Popular – SKNVibes.com

CELEBRATE LOCAL WILDLIFE AT THIS SUNDAY’S ENDEMIC ANIMAL FESTIVAL! – AVS News

First Endemic Animal Festival Proves Wildly Popular – St. Martin News Network

First Endemic Animal Festival Proves Wildly Popular – SXM Island Time

First St. Martin Endemic Animal Festival Proves Wildly Popular – Vibes Antigua

First St. Martin Endemic Animal Festival Proves Wildly Popular – Anguilla News

First St. Martin Endemic Animal Festival Proves Wildly Popular – Vibes BVI

Très beau succès populaire du premier festival des animaux endémiques – SXMinfo.fr

The Daily Herald, May 2014

Le Pélican, May 2014

SXM FaxInfo, May 2014

St. Martin’s Week, May 2014

The Daily Herald, Out and About, April 2014

The Daily Herald, April 2014

St. Martin’s Week, April 2014 (The photo captions are mixed-up, the photos are the bearded anole and Lesser Antillean bullfinch.)

It was the last Mardi de Grand Case yesterday, and we featured endemic animals at our booth, in preparation for the upcoming Endemic Animal Festival. We had a great time and lots of folks stopped by to learn about the animals that live only on St. Martin and those that live only in our region. Don’t forget to join the Endemic Animal Festival and invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/460990390671535/

We had a nature walk at Happy Bay this morning for Les Fruits de Mer members. It was a beautiful day and we had a great turnout. Although it is the dry season, there were still many things to see, from the egrets nesting at the Cemetery Pond to some of our regional endemic birds like the Zenaida Dove, Black-faced Grassquit and Green-throated Carib hummingbird. One highlight was seeing a tiny parasitic wasp laying eggs in aphids!

Thanks to all the members for being patient as we have done more public events than events for just members. Where should we go next? I think a night walk at Loterie Farm might be a great chance to see some interesting nocturnal animals.

Thanks to everyone who came by the Les Fruits de Mer booth at Mardi de Grand Case on Tuesday to learn about local lizards! We were going pretty much non-stop all evening with our short presentation about the lizards of St. Martin, and many people learned about how our local lizards are unique and the role they play in our ecosystem.

GET A LITTLE WILD–WITH LOCAL LIZARDS!

Rev up your reptile IQ at the Les Fruits de Mer booth at Mardis de Grand Case this Tuesday!

This week’s wildlife theme is local lizards. Come by our booth for fast facts and insider info on these captivating creatures, like which lizards live only on this island and nowhere else in the world, what lizards have been introduced here by humans, and why are there so many iguanas here now!

Stop by the booth for a couple minutes every week to learn something new about island wildlife–we feature a different topic about the fascinating fauna of SXM each Tuesday. You’ll get to see mini multimedia Discovery Presentations about the week’s wildlife topic, “Ask the Expert” questions about local wildlife, and you can even have “mystery” species you’ve been wondering about identified from photos.

The Les Fruits de Mer booth is open every Tuesday evening from 6-10pm at the Mardis de Grand Case street fair in Grand Case, and it’s located by the lolos.

Read about our weekly booth at Mardis de Grand Case.

Les Fruits de Mer have had a great time at our Tuesday evening booth each week at the Mardis de Grand Case. We’ve had the chance to interact with lots of folks – young and old, residents and visitors. Each week we’ve been focused on a different topic related to St. Martin wildlife, like insects, birds, sea turtles and marine mammals. Check out some of the photos from the last few weeks and be sure to visit us one Tuesday!

A few photos from Tacousteau 2014. Tacos were eaten, Cousteau films were watched and a good time was had by all!

Here are some additional photos from SnorkelFest 2014, including some of the volunteers setting up and the trip back on the ferry.

SnorkelFest was a blast, and we are lucky enough to have a bunch of fantastic photos by Agnes Etchegoyen. If you didn’t make it out, here’s your chance to get a feel for what the day was like and why you should go next year!

Les Fruits de Mer were at Mardi de Grand Case on Tuesday, sharing information about local marine life and letting everyone know about SnorkelFest. We will have a booth each week, sharing information about the association and different aspects of St. Martin wildlife and heritage each week.

If you haven’t signed up for SnorkelFest yet, you can do it here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/623840144329454/

Putting on SnorkelFest 2014 is a lot of work, but luckily we have an excellent team of volunteers. Here is some more information about them.

Maite Asensio
Maite is a marine biologist with Marine Sciences degree and Master’s of Oceanography from University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She is also an award-winning underwater photographer. Her experience includes scientific diving, humpback whale photo identification and sea turtle conservation projects. She has participated in conferences related to our changing oceans and cryptogamic botany.

Isabelle Bonnefoy
Isabelle is a professional diving instructor and marine biologist. She manages the ecosnorkeling trail on Pinel Island. She loves to share her knowledge about the marine environment and has been working to ensure that the natural habitats in and around the snorkeling trail are both protected and enjoyed.

Je m’occupe du sentier marin de l’îlet Pinel. J’accueille le public et l ‘informe sur la réglementation de la Réserve Naturelle. J’aime aussi partager mes connaissances sur le milieu marin que je pratique depuis que je suis enfant. Après avoir effectué des études en océanologie j’ai voulu rester en contact direct avec le milieu et j’ai passé mon monitorat de plongée. J’ai enseigné la plongée bouteille en Mer Rouge, en France et à St Martin. Je travaille maintenant en surface et en apnée et aime beaucoup transmettre mes connaissances.

Binkie van Es
Bird guide and well-known bird photographer Binkie van Es has lived on St. Maarten for 28 years and has a day job at Kooyman. He discovered birding through photography and got hooked, line and sinker. Binkie has spotted and documented numerous rare birds on St. Maarten and is responsible for the majority of bird photos taken on the island. He also participates in bird research projects like the Caribbean Waterbird Census. He recently began a second career as a professional birding guide on St. Maarten (http://sintmaartenbirding.com) and is proud to be a Les Fruits de Mer member.

Guide ornithologue et photographe naturaliste réputé, Binkie van Es vit à Sint Maarten depuis 28 ans et travaille à Kooyman. Il a découvert l’ornithologie à travers la photographie et est littéralement tombé dedans corps et âme. Binkie a repéré et répertorié  de nombreux oiseaux rares à Sint Maarten et est à l’origine de la plupart des photos d’oiseaux prises sur l’île. Il participe également à différentes recherches ornithologues telles que le Rencensement des Oiseaux marins des Caraïbes. Il a récemment débuté une seconde carrière professionnelle en tant que guide ornithologue à Sint Maarten (http://sintmaartenbirding.com) et est fier d’être un membre de l’association Les Fruits de Mer.

Béatrice Galdi
Béatrice Galdi vit en outre-mer depuis 3 ans. Titulaire d’un double diplôme d’ingénieur des Eaux et Forêts et d’ingénieur agronome, elle est spécialisée en protection et gestion des milieux naturels. A Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélemy, elle représente le Conservatoire du littoral, un établissement chargé de protéger les milieux naturels littoraux. Elle travaille sur des projets de restauration écologique et d’aménagements pour l’accueil du public, comme des sentiers de randonnée et des observatoires sur les étangs. Elle s’intéresse plus particulièrement aux milieux terrestres, à la botanique et aux paysages. Elle est passionnée par les voyages et la randonnée, en particulier l’ascension de volcans !

Dominique Noiré
Dominique Noiré is a long time diver, instructor and co-owner of Ocean Explorers Dive Center from 1986 till 2002. Active member and speaker for Mon Ecole Ma baleine, an association dedicated to the education and protection of marine mammals in their habitat.
http://www.monecolemabaleine.org

Dominique est une monitrice de plongee, co-proprietaire du Club Ocean Explorers a St Maarten de 1986 a 2002. Intervenante et animatrice a St Martin/St Maarten pour l’association Mon Ecole Ma Baleine, une association sans but lucratif dediee a l’education et la protection des mammiferes marins dans leur habitat naturel.
http://www.monecolemabaleine.org

Olivia Roudon
Professional photographer Olivia Roudon has been behind one lens or another since she was 15 years old. After studying audiovisual arts in Paris, she helped create beautiful films as a camera assistant in the world of French cinema for nearly a decade. Olivia grew up on St. Martin/St. Maarten and has traveled the globe with her camera. Her visual work is informed by her multicultural experience, spirit of adventure, sensitive emotional nuance and love of light. She has been photographing Les Fruits de Mer since before the association was officially created and you can see more of her work at http://olivia-roudon.com and https://www.facebook.com/pages/OLLie-PiCs/1376524679251992

Olivia Roudon, photographe professionnelle, est derrière l’objectif depuis l’âge de 15 ans. Après des études d’art audiovisuel à Paris, elle est devenue assistante caméra dans le milieu du cinéma français où elle a contribué à la réalisations de magnifiques films durant une dizaine d’années. Olivia a grandi à Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten et a traversé le globe avec son appareil photo. Son travail artistique est marqué par son expérience multiculturelle, son sans de l’aventure, sa sensibilité aux nuances émotionnelles et son amour de la lumière. Elle photographie Les Fruits de Mer depuis avant la création officielle de l’association. 
Vous pouvez admirer son travail sur http://olivia-roudon.com et https://www.facebook.com/pages/OLLie-PiCs/1376524679251992.

Amandine Vaslet
Amandine Vaslet is a biologist who has lived for 8 years in the Caribbean. She holds a PhD from the University Antilles-Guyane (FWI) where she has studied coastal marine fauna and their living habitats. She collaborated in several research projects in the fields of marine biology and environmental monitoring in Guadeloupe, Florida and Belize. She has authored several scientific papers and reports on fauna spatial patterns and has a broad interest in tropical wildlife and ecology. She is the translator of the French-edition of The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin.

Amandine Vaslet est une biologiste qui vit dans la Caraïbe depuis 8 ans . Elle a réalisé une thèse à l’Université Antilles-Guyane en Guadeloupe pendant laquelle elle a étudié la faune marine côtière et ses habitats. Elle a participé à des projets de recherche en biologie marine en Guadeloupe, en Floride et au Belize. Elle est l’auteur de plusieurs articles scientifiques et rapports sur les distributions spatiales de la faune marine et présente un vif intérêt pour la faune tropicale et l’écologie en général. C’est elle qui a traduit Le Guide Incomplet de la Faune sauvage de Saint-Martin en français.

Stephen Winkel
Stephen Winkel is a multi-platform visual and performance artist specializing in art that promotes environmental and cultural awareness, particularly eco-building and eco-events. Stephen is the architect and builder of the famously eco-friendly “Qabaian” office of filmmaker, photographer, and environmentalist Yann Arthus Bertrand in Paris. He masterminded Events Planning for World Wildlife Federation France for four years, and partnered with many other organizations on the “Chercheurs d’Art et Chercheurs de Science” program to share culture and science in French schools. Stephen is the founder of Compagnie Moustik, which produces public performance art, street theatre, and shows in Saint Martin. He is also an accomplished designer, comedian, sailor, and eco-pirate.

Stephen Winkel est un artiste multi-plateformes dont la spécialité est tournée vers les problématiques environnementales et culturelles, telles que l’éco-construction et l’éco-événementiel en particulier. Stephen est l’architecte et le constructeur du célèbre bureau « eco-friendly » du photographe, scénariste et environnementaliste Yann Arthus Bertrand à Paris : « Qabaian ». Il a dirigé la Planification événementielle pour WWF France pendant quatre ans et a établi des partenariats avec de nombreuses autres organisations comme « Chercheurs d’Art et Chercheurs de Science » qui a pour vacation de partager la culture et la science dans les écoles françaises. Stephen est le fondateur de la compagnie de théâtre de rue Compagnie Moustik,  à Saint Martin. C’est également un designer accompli, un comédien, un marin et un eco-pirate.

Jennifer Yerkes
Jennifer Yerkes is one of the co-founding members of the Les Fruits de Mer team. Jenn has served as the team’s Chief of Expeditions since its inception in 2007, leading missions around the globe. She worked in advertising and PR in New York City for a decade before moving to St. Martin. She is currently leveraging her extensive expertise in writing, branding, and creative direction for the Association’s communications, and to develop a series of educational books for children based on the wildlife of St. Martin. A PADI Rescue Diver and avid snorkeler, she is also deeply interested in local food and folklore.

Jennifer Yerkes est un des membres cofondateure de l’association  Les Fruits de Mer. Jenn remplit le rôle de Chef d’Expédition depuis sa création en 2007, conduisant des missions autour du globe. Elle a travaillé dans le domaine de la publicité et des relations publiques à New York pendant une décennie avant de s’installer à St. Martin. Actuellement, elle met son expertise en écriture, marketing et sa créativité au service de la communications de l’association. Elle travaille également à une série de livres éducatifs pour enfants basés sur la faune et la flore de St. Martin. Plongeuse sauveteur PADI, fervente pratiquante de snorkeling, Jenn est aussi particulièrement intéressée par la gastronomie et le folklore locaux.

Mark Yokoyama
Mark Yokoyama is one of the co-founding members of the Les Fruits de Mer team. Mark is the author of The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin and a regular wildlife columnist for The Daily Herald and SXMInfo. He is an accomplished nature photographer whose work has appeared in internationally-renowned publications including The New York Times and The Economist. A former business consultant and former President of the Oregon Entomological Society, Mark now spends his time doing wildlife research and photography, conducting wildlife education, and promoting authentic, sustainable wildlife tourism on the island of St. Martin and beyond.

Mark Yokoyama est un des membres cofondateurs de l’association Les Fruits de mer. Mark est l’auteur du Guide Incomplet de la Faune Sauvage de Saint Martin et un chroniqueur spécialiste de faune et flore régulier pour le quotidien The Daily Herald de Sint Maarten et pour le journal en ligne SXMINFO de Saint-Martin. Il est un photographe naturaliste accompli dont le travail est apparu dans des publications de renommée internationale comme le New York Times ou The Economist. Ancien consultant d’affaires et ancien Président de la Société Entomologiste de l’Oregon, Mark consacre désormais son temps à la recherche, à la photographie, à l’enseignement et l’éveil à la faune et à la flore et à la promotion d’un tourisme vert et durable sur l’île de Saint-Martin et dans la Caraïbe.

ECOSNORKELING
ECOSNORKELING manages the underwater snorkeling trail at Pinel Island, offering rental of snorkeling gear and guided snorkeling tours. ECOSNORKELING helps ensure the health of the reef on the snorkeling trail while also providing a fun and enjoyable experience for guests discovering the wonders of the undersea world. They are a partner with the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin and a corporate member of Les Fruits de Mer.
http://www.ecosnorkeling.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ECOSNORKELING-sentier-marin-de-lîlet-PINEL-ST-MARTIN-FWI/269867806380169

ECOSNORKELING is offering snorkeling during the event.

ECOSNORKELING gère le sentier sous-marin de Pinel, propose de la location d’équipement (palmes, masque, tuba) et des excursions guidées sur le sentier. ECOSNORKELING assure la protection du récif sur le sentier sous-marin et permet aux visiteurs de découvrir la flore et la faune marines. C’est une entreprise partenaire de La Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin et membre de l’association Les Fruits de Mer.
http://www.ecosnorkeling.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ECOSNORKELING-sentier-marin-de-lîlet-PINEL-ST-MARTIN-FWI/269867806380169

ECOSNORKELING offrira la plongée en apnée pendant SnorkelFest

Caribbean Paddling
Located in Cul-de-Sac, Caribbean Paddling is an outdoor company founded in 2009. It offers kayak and paddle board rentals and tours to Pinel Island as well as kayak and paddle board rental and delivery. They are a partner with the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin and a corporate member of Les Fruits de Mer.
http://www.caribbeanpaddling.com
https://www.facebook.com/caribbeanpaddling

Caribbean Paddling will be providing stand-up paddleboards for the guests to try at the event.

Situé à Cul-de-Sac, Caribbean Paddling est une entreprise d’activités de plein air fondée en 2009. Elle propose des locations de kayak et de paddle pour se rendre sur Pinel ainsi que des livraisons et locations de kayaks et paddle sur St-Martin. C’est une entreprise partenaire de La Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin et membre de l’association Les Fruits de Mer.

Caribbean Paddling proposera une initiation au paddle lors de l’évènement.

Conservatoire du Littoral
The Coastal Conservancy is a public institution, whose mission is to pursue a policy of conservation of natural coastal environments, while ensuring public access is free and open to all. The organization purchases coastal land to ensure it is permanently protected from development. It operates in all parts of France, including overseas territories.The Conservatoire du Littoral is present in Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, where it employs one person, and protects about 360 hectares of land, 85 acres of shoreline, 14 ponds and all islets.
http://www.conservatoire-du-littoral.fr
https://www.facebook.com/conservatoiredulittoral

The Conservatoire du Littoral will be leading a guided coastal walk and beach clean-up during the event.

Le Conservatoire du littoral est un établissement public de l’Etat, qui a pour mission de mener une politique de sauvegarde des milieux naturels littoraux, tout en garantissant leur accès au public libre et ouvert à tous. Il opère par maîtrise foncière, c’est-à-dire qu’il est propriétaire des espaces qu’il protège, qui sont ainsi définitivement soustraits à l’urbanisation.Il est présent sur les rivages métropolitains mais également ultramarins, grâce à l’action de 7 antennes situées dans les régions outre-mer.Le Conservatoire du littoral est présent à Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélemy, où il emploie une personne, et protège environ 360 ha de terrains, dont 85 ha de rivages, les 14 étangs et tous les îlets.

Le Conservatoire du Littoral organisera des visites guidées sur les sentiers de Pinel et participera au nettoyage des plages.

Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin
The Réserve Naturelle of Saint Martin was established in 1998 and manages a marine park of 30 square kilometers on the northeast of St. Martin, 14 ponds on the island and 11 kilometers of natural coastline. The Réserve protects five major ecosystems: coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, ponds and dry forests.
http://reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com
https://www.facebook.com/Reserve.Naturelle.StMartin

The Réserve Naturelle is providing educational materials and assisting in the logistics of the event.

La Réserve naturelle de Saint-Martin est une aire marine protégée de 30km2 située au nord-est de l’île de Saint-Martin. Créé en 1998, cet espace préserve les cinq principaux écosystèmes de l’île : récifs coralliens, mangroves, herbiers de phanérogames, étangs et forêt sèche littorale. La Réserve gère également les 14 étangs du Conservatoire du littoral et ses 11 km de rivages terrestres naturels.

La Réserve Naturelle fournira des supports pédagogiques et aidera à la mise en place de l’évènement.

Below you can find links to articles about SnorkelFest online and images of articles in the press.

Over 150 Attendees Explore Undersea Life at SnorkelFest 2014

SnorkelFest 2014. Plus de 150 participants ont profité de l’évènement

Over 150 Attendees Explore Undersea Life at SnorkelFest 2014

Bénévoles recherchés pour SnorkelFest !

Evènement. Célébrez le monde sous-marin ce Samedi à SnorkelFest !…

Celebrate the underwater world this Saturday at SnorkelFest!

Celebrate the underwater world this Saturday at SnorkelFest!

Caribbean Compass, March 2014

St. Martin’s Week, January 2014

The Daily Herald, January 2014

SXM Fax Info, January 2014

The Daily Herald, January 2014