Marine Species Population Study Internship

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten is offering internship opportunities for motivated students in the field of Marine Animal Ecology. This internship provides a unique chance to contribute to applied research in the Caribbean while supporting urgent conservation priorities on the island. Students will gain hands-on experience in fieldwork, data collection, and ecological analysis, working directly with the Foundation’s staff and regional partners.

The internship provides a unique chance to contribute to applied research in the Caribbean while supporting urgent conservation priorities on the island. Students will gain hands-on experience in fieldwork, CITES-related monitoring, confiscation data management, and ecological analysis, working directly with the Foundation’s staff and regional partners.

Marine ecosystems in St. Maarten are under increasing pressure from coastal development, climate change, and habitat degradation. Understanding the reproductive biology and population dynamics of key marine species is essential for developing effective conservation and management strategies. Interns will contribute to research focused on:

• Spawning Ecology: Using literature and data review identify potential spawning aggregations of reef-associated species (e.g., groupers, snappers, parrotfish) verify via underwater surveys and citizen science data.
• Population Health: Estimating local population sizes, age structure, and habitat use of keystone marine species (sea turtles, conch, sharks, etc) using standardized ecological monitoring techniques.
• CITES Monitoring: Supporting the “Reef to Runway” project by documenting confiscated wildlife and natural materials at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) and linking confiscation data to in-water population assessments. Linking findings to ongoing management plans, such as marine protected area design, nursery habitat conservation, and ecosystem resilience initiatives.