Complex sentence: While the conversion of the island to refuge status is heralded by environmentalists and concerned citizens, there is a large population of boaters who will no longer be able to use the island as a weekend gathering space for sunbathing and partying.
Split into simpler sentences: While the conversion of the island to refuge status is heralded by environmentalists and concerned citizens. However, there is a large population of boaters who will no longer be able to use the island as a weekend gathering space for sunbathing and partying.