More Marine Protected Areas Coming Soon to the Bahamas?

Originally published on the (now archived) National Geographic blog.
February 7, 2013

Last month I had the pleasure not only of traveling among Bahamian islands, but of seeing them through the eyes of local conservation organizations. As manager of the Waitt Foundation’s grant to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), I was there looking for ways we could further ensure successful expansion of the Bahamas’ network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). [Note: For more on the Waitt Foundation and my role there, see my previous (and first!) Ocean Views post.] So, with TNC’s Eleanor Phillips (North Caribbean Director) and Shenique Albury (Senior Policy Advisor), via tiny planes and small boats, I went to learn about the local organizations they partner with and see project sites firsthand.

In Nassau, the capital city, I was honored to meet with Mr. Dorsett, Minister of Environment and Housing, the Bahamas National Trust (BNT, which manages the country’s MPAs), and the Department of Marine Resources. We discussed the need to empower local communities to participate in the designation of new MPAs, the importance of economic data on the effects of MPA expansion, the need to create a sustained awareness campaign about the benefits of fish sanctuaries (where no fishing occurs), and the perennial challenge of how to prevent illegal fishing. Much to do, but Mr. Dorsett’s recent appointment as Minister is cause for hope that sustainable ocean management will get the thoughtful attention it requires.

While many important ocean management decisions are made in the capital, I was eager to get to the “Family Islands,” to see the locations whose protection was being discussed in these city meetings.

On Abaco, we explored the proposed East Abaco Creeks National Park with Friends of the Environment . I learned about Friends’ wonderful education and community engagement programs, and their goal to increase the amount of environmental research conducted on the island. I snorkeled in the surprisingly vibrant tidal flats, and made some failed attempts at fly-casting for bonefish. When I confessed this failure to my boss, he responded, “fly fishing is all about zen.” Given my excitement about the creatures I was spotting, I could not have been further from a meditative state. “Ooh! Cassiopeia upside-down jellyfish!” However, in such a lovely setting I’d happily try my hand again at this catch-and-release fishing that is such a big recreational draw for the Bahamas, and whose proponents tend to be conservation-minded.

Next we arrived at Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park via my first ever flight on a sea plane. That did not disappoint – a plane landing on the water and pulling right up to the beach?! From Park Administrator Andrew Kris, I learned about how the Park keeps itself running by collecting mooring fees and making use of passing sailors as park volunteers. We snorkeled, saw four reef sharks (yay sharks!) and swimming pigs (hysterical). Despite the delightful diversions, discussions here, as on every island came back to the challenges of building community support and ensuring adequate enforcement in such a large and sparsely populated set of islands.