Since 2008, The Bahamas has been a participant in The Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI), which is working to protect 20% of the Bahamian marine environment. The goals of the CCI include identifying and facilitating the designation of protected areas, garnering strong political support to enforce declarations, and assembling a funding mechanism to ensure continual preservation of these critical spaces. The Bahamas National Protected Areas System (BNPAS) currently protects approximately 10 percent of the country’s 200 meter marine shelf habitat. Important bonefish habitat, such as spawning aggregation sites, juvenile habitat, and home ranges, make up a significant portion of the current areas that are currently protected.
BTT’s Bahamas Initiative Manager Justin Lewis is currently attending a two-day workshop hosted by TNC focusing on Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) in the Bahamas. Multiple organizations and scientists are participating including BTT, TNC, Bahamas National Trust, Bahamas Department of Marine Resources, BREEF, Audubon Society, and Cape Eleuthera Institute. The workshop brought together government departments, NGO’s, and scientists to collaborate, discuss and share their ideas and opinions on how to move forward to protect the remaining 10 percent of the marine shelf habitat. BTT will continue to work along with these key partners to identify critical bonefish habitats around the Bahamas in the hopes of getting them protected.
