Aruba’s turquoise waters, coral reefs, and mangrove forests are under pressure—but there’s hope. Turning the Tide is a feature-length documentary that follows researchers and volunteers working to restore Aruba’s marine ecosystems through the 2023–2025 Turning the Tide project.
Led by partners including the Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF), ScubbleBubbles, the University of Aruba, and Wageningen University & Research (WENR & WMR), the team:
- Built sedimentation ponds to reduce erosion into mangroves and reefs
- Reopened mangrove channels to restore nursery habitat for fish and other wildlife
- Cultivated corals and placed artificial reefs to stabilize rubble and support new growth
Project leader René Henkens (Wageningen) credits the efforts of local volunteers and students from both WUR and the University of Aruba. ACF Director Natasha Silva notes the project has strengthened public support for conservation and highlighted the behavior changes needed to keep Aruba livable and beautiful for residents and visitors.
After screenings on Aruba and at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the film comes to the Netherlands:
Wageningen screening: Friday, 31 October 2025, Visum Mundi cinema.
Partners will give a short introduction and meet attendees afterwards. All proceeds will help scale up the project on Aruba.
Photo Credits : https://www.naturetoday.com/intl/en/nature-reports/message/?msg=34512
