Coral reefs represent some of the world's most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them, many of the sea's most exquisite species will not survive.- Sheherazade Goldsmith
In this week’s episode, we chat with Sanne Tuijten, the assistant coordinator at Reef Renewal Bonaire. Sanne has been visiting the Netherlands Antilles since she was 12 years old and from a  young age, she knew she wanted to become a marine biologist. She obtained her scuba certification in Curaçao and when she found out that the Dutch University system did not offer a marine biology bachelor program, she moved to the UK to study marine biology at the University of Southampton. There she focused on subjects related to tropical ecosystems and coral reef ecology. She became president of the Student Dive Club and got used to diving in the cold and murky waters of the North Sea.
After receiving her MSc in 2020 she joined Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire and was eager to put her scientific knowledge to use for protecting and restoring coral reefs. She is “a fish in the water”, as one says in Dutch, and enjoys the everyday activities of preserving Bonaire’s reefs. Together we discuss the importance of Coral Reefs, the threats they face, coral restoration techniques and the role we can play in protecting the world corals. To learn more follow Reef Renewal Bonaire on Instagram or check out their website to get involved.