Turning the Tide: The documentary
Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF), ScubbleBubbles, University of Aruba, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University & ResearchIn 2023, the project 'Turning the Tide' was launched – an initiative by local, regional and international experts to halt biodiversity loss and start restoring marine life around Aruba. For more than two years, they worked together to 'turn the tide'. Project leader René Henkens from Wageningen explains how: “We dug large sedimentation ponds to prevent erosion material from washing into the mangroves and onto the coral. Blocked mangrove channels were reopened so that fish and other marine life can once again use them as nurseries. We also cultivated corals and placed artificial reefs on the coral rubble, providing a stable base for new coral growth. All this work was only possible thanks to the efforts of many local volunteers and students from Wageningen University & Research and the University of Aruba.”
Documentary
The entire journey was captured on camera and turned into the feature-length documentary Turning the Tide. The film follows project partners and volunteers as they work to bring new life to Aruba’s coral reefs and mangrove forests. Natasha Silva, Director of the Aruba Conservation Foundation, says: “With this project and documentary, we’ve built a strong sense of goodwill and raised real awareness for nature conservation on Aruba. People now understand that we can’t do this alone, and that a real shift in our behaviour is needed if we want to keep the island liveable and beautiful for the future – both for our children and for the many visitors our economy depends on.”
A world away
That this awareness doesn’t always come naturally in the Netherlands is something René Henkens knows all too well: “I often notice that nature in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom still feels like a world away for many people in the Netherlands. In a way, it is – on the other side of the ocean – and there still is plenty of work to do on nature restoration in the Netherlands. But the ecosystems of our six Caribbean islands are often far richer, and far more fragile, than those in the Netherlands. Local economies depend on them much more heavily as well. If we truly care about biodiversity and human well-being, this part of our nature deserves our full attention, too.”
Special film event in Wageningen
After screenings on Aruba and during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the documentary is now coming to the big screen in the Netherlands as well. On Friday 31 October 2025, you can enjoy the movie at the Wageningen cinema, Visum Mundi. Travel from your seat straight to Aruba and dive into the island’s fascinating yet fragile underwater world. Before the screening, some of the project partners will give a short introduction. They will be there in person for the occasion. Afterwards, you are welcome to join them for a drink and continue the conversation. All proceeds from the evening will go towards further scaling up the Turning the Tide project on Aruba.
Official trailer Turning the Tide (Source: Turning the Tide)
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The Turning the Tide project was funded through the European Union’s RESEMBID programme, which supports sustainable development in the European overseas territories. Within this programme, the European Union was the donor, Expertise France functioned as coördinator, and the GFDRR and the World Bank supported the Carribean overseas areas with disaster risk funding and climate resilience.The project was carried out in collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, the Aruba Conservation Foundation, the University of Aruba and the ScubbleBubbles Foundation. The project partners are committed to continuing their collaboration and to further scaling up and applying the project’s results in the years ahead. |
More information
- On Friday 31 October 2025 you can watch the documentary 'Turning the Tide' in movie theater Visum Mundi in Wageningen. Start movie: 8.00 PM (playing time: 95 minutes).
Text: Wageningen Environmental Research
Images: Aruba Conservation Foundation (lead photo: diver at coral patch that is part of the restoration project); Turning the Tide