Statia Government 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐏𝐀’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

The expansion will take place at the King’s Well National Parks Centre. This upgraded laboratory will serve as the permanent home for STENAPA’s sea urchin restoration project under the Nature and Environment Policy Plan (NEPP).

The expanded facility will provide the specialised infrastructure required to culture long spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) from larvae to juveniles. These urchins will then be placed back on the reef. As important reef grazers, they help control algae and create better conditions for coral growth and recovery.

This development represents an important step in strengthening coral reef restoration capacity on Statia.