MARINE PROTECTED AREAS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE BAHAMASIN THE BAHAMAS

By:By:

Janeen Bullard & Janeen Bullard &

LaKeshia AndersonLaKeshia Anderson

IABIN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS WORKSHOPOcho Rios, Jamaica

March 10th – 13th, 2008

National Park System

National ParkSystem of the

Bahamas

Walkers Cay National Park

Lucayan National ParkRand Nature CentrePeterson Cay National Park

Black Sound Cay National Reserve

Tilloo Cay National Reserve

The RetreatBonefish Popnd National ParkHarrold and Wilson Ponds National ParkThe Primeval Forest

Central Andros National Parks

Exuma Cays land & sea Park

Moraih Harbour CayNational Park

Little Inagua National Park

Union Creek Reserve

Inagua National Park

Marine FarmHope House

Abaco National Park

Conception Island

Exuma Cays Land & Sea Exuma Cays Land & Sea ParkPark

• Created in 1Created in 1959959• Managed by BNTManaged by BNT• Became no-take in Became no-take in

19861986• Management Plan Management Plan

CompletedCompleted

Photo courtesy of S. Larson

Network of Marine Reserves Network of Marine Reserves

• The national network of MPAs to The national network of MPAs to include at least 20% of the total shelf include at least 20% of the total shelf edge of The Bahama banksedge of The Bahama banks

• Initial designation in 2000Initial designation in 2000– Fisheries Act/RegulationsFisheries Act/Regulations– No management planNo management plan

Andros Andros

• Andros Northern and Andros Northern and Southern Barrier Reef Southern Barrier Reef National ParksNational Parks

• Andros West SideAndros West Side

NB: Outlined in green are the proposed areas to be included in the west side protected area system

San SalvadorSan Salvador

Activities completedActivities completed– Community Community

ConsultationConsultation– Dive Tag ProgramDive Tag Program– Proposal Submitted to Proposal Submitted to

governmentgovernment

North BiminiNorth Bimini• Area size: 30.69 km2

• Habitats:– Mangrove (western

edge)– Seagrass beds– Bonefish flats– Reef– lagoon

• Main threats– Major development– Foreign fishing

• Historic site– Healing hole

AbacoAbaco

• Area size: ≈ 95.16 Area size: ≈ 95.16 kmkm22

• Abaco Barrier ReefAbaco Barrier Reef

• HabitatsHabitats– Coral reef Coral reef – Seagrass bedsSeagrass beds– mangrovesmangroves

• Major threatsMajor threats– CasuarinasCasuarinas– Lionfish (2 species)Lionfish (2 species)

ExumaExuma

• Site 1: Size: 145.52 kmSite 1: Size: 145.52 km22 – mangroves and creeksmangroves and creeks– Bonefish flats Bonefish flats – Spiny lobster breeding Spiny lobster breeding

grounds grounds

• Major threat Major threat – Lack of enforcementLack of enforcement

• Site 2: Size: 101.83 kmSite 2: Size: 101.83 km22 – Nassau grouper spawning Nassau grouper spawning

aggregationaggregation– Patch reefs Patch reefs

• Major threatsMajor threats– Commercial fishing (LI)Commercial fishing (LI)– BleachingBleaching– LionfishLionfish

South EleutheraSouth Eleuthera• Area size: 50.30 Area size: 50.30

kmkm22

• HabitatsHabitats– Patch reefsPatch reefs– MangrovesMangroves– Blue holesBlue holes– Seagrass meadowsSeagrass meadows– Breeding groundsBreeding grounds

• Queen conchQueen conch• Spiny lobsterSpiny lobster

• Main threatsMain threats– Depressed economyDepressed economy– enforcementenforcement– LionfishLionfish

Berry IslandsBerry Islands

• Area size ≈ 136.31 Area size ≈ 136.31 kmkm22

• Edge of tongue of the Edge of tongue of the ocean ocean

• HabitatsHabitats– Extensive Coral reef Extensive Coral reef – Seagrass bedsSeagrass beds

• conch nursery groundsconch nursery grounds

• Main threatsMain threats– LionfishLionfish– DevelopmentsDevelopments– Fishing Fishing

CURRENTLY…..CURRENTLY…..• National Implementation Support National Implementation Support

Programme (NISP) PartnershipsProgramme (NISP) Partnerships(DMR, BNT, TNC, BEST COM)(DMR, BNT, TNC, BEST COM)– Capacity Plan Capacity Plan – Sustainable Finance PlanSustainable Finance Plan– Master PlanMaster Plan

• Assessment of current state of Assessment of current state of proposed areas & defining proposed areas & defining boundaries.boundaries.

• Continued stakeholder consultationsContinued stakeholder consultations– Management plan/zoning Management plan/zoning

Email contacts:Email contacts:

lakeshiaanderson@bahamas.gov.bslakeshiaanderson@bahamas.gov.bs

&&

jbullard@bnt.bsjbullard@bnt.bs