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.
Ocean conservation work from my office in Washington, DC can get abstract. Absurd as it may sound, I sometimes lose touch with the wondrous magnificence of the ocean. Doing cartwheels on the beach, swimming with graceful and goofy sea creatures, and hearing about the real challenges of implementing sound ocean management on the ground were my reality check about both how much hard work remains to be done, and why it’s overwhelmingly worth the effort. The good news is there are a bunch of dedicated people in the Bahamas working hard to improve ocean management. I hope to be reporting some MPA victories to you soon.
Til next time, you can find me (@ayanaeliza) on Twitter sharing pieces of ocean conservation news I find compelling.