MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE BAHAMAS By: Janeen Bullard & LaKeshia Anderson IABIN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS WORKSHOP Ocho Rios, Jamaica March 10 th – 13 th, 2008

National Park System National Park System of the Bahamas Walkers Cay National Park Lucayan National Park Rand Nature Centre Peterson Cay National Park Black Sound Cay National Reserve Tilloo Cay National Reserve The Retreat Bonefish Popnd National Park Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park The Primeval Forest Central Andros National Parks Exuma Cays land & sea Park Moraih Harbour Cay National Park Little Inagua National Park Union Creek Reserve Inagua National Park Marine Farm Hope House Abaco National Park Conception Island

Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park Created in 1959 Created in 1959 Managed by BNT Managed by BNT Became no-take in 1986 Became no-take in 1986 Management Plan Completed Management Plan Completed Photo courtesy of S. Larson

Network of Marine Reserves The national network of MPAs to include at least 20% of the total shelf edge of The Bahama banks The national network of MPAs to include at least 20% of the total shelf edge of The Bahama banks Initial designation in 2000 Initial designation in 2000 – Fisheries Act/Regulations – No management plan

Andros Andros Northern and Southern Barrier Reef National Parks Andros Northern and Southern Barrier Reef National Parks Andros West Side Andros West Side NB: Outlined in green are the proposed areas to be included in the west side protected area system

San Salvador Activities completed –Community Consultation –Dive Tag Program –Proposal Submitted to government

North Bimini Area size: km 2 Habitats: – – Mangrove (western edge) – – Seagrass beds – – Bonefish flats – – Reef – – lagoon Main threats – – Major development – – Foreign fishing Historic site – – Healing hole

Abaco Area size: ≈ km 2 Area size: ≈ km 2 Abaco Barrier Reef Abaco Barrier Reef Habitats Habitats – Coral reef – Seagrass beds – mangroves Major threats Major threats – Casuarinas – Lionfish (2 species)

Exuma Site 1: Size: km 2 Site 1: Size: km 2 – mangroves and creeks – Bonefish flats – Spiny lobster breeding grounds Major threat Major threat – Lack of enforcement Site 2: Size: km 2 Site 2: Size: km 2 – Nassau grouper spawning aggregation – Patch reefs Major threats Major threats – Commercial fishing (LI) – Bleaching – Lionfish

South Eleuthera Area size: km 2 Area size: km 2 Habitats Habitats – Patch reefs – Mangroves – Blue holes – Seagrass meadows – Breeding grounds Queen conch Spiny lobster Main threats Main threats – Depressed economy – enforcement – Lionfish

Berry Islands Area size ≈ km 2 Area size ≈ km 2 Edge of tongue of the ocean Edge of tongue of the ocean Habitats Habitats – Extensive Coral reef – Seagrass beds conch nursery grounds Main threats Main threats – Lionfish – Developments – Fishing

CURRENTLY….. National Implementation Support Programme (NISP) Partnerships National Implementation Support Programme (NISP) Partnerships (DMR, BNT, TNC, BEST COM) – Capacity Plan – Sustainable Finance Plan – Master Plan Assessment of current state of proposed areas & defining boundaries. Assessment of current state of proposed areas & defining boundaries. Continued stakeholder consultations Continued stakeholder consultations – Management plan/zoning

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