earth day 2015 project

The Government High school

Utilizing Wetlands, Protecting Marine Resources

In Commemoration of Earth Day 2015

[Type the author name]

4/15/2015

Abstract: Wetlands are essential habitats to the livelihood of numerous fish crops which use wetland marshes as a nursery habitat for juvenile fish and larvae. However, our Bahamian population and laws do not safeguard mangrove ecosystems, degrading and demolishing the marshes for other purposes. This paper will demonstrate the importance of wetlands to the Spiny Lobster, a heavily exported fish crop, and the endangered Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper. Additionally, it will seek to offer solutions to regenerate populations of these particular fish crops using methods which include the rehabilitation of wetlands and the assurance that human influences will not tarnish their environmental integrity.

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Identification of Issue………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Methodology... ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. . 10

Data Collection…………………………………………………………………………………… 13

Data Analysis……………………………………………………………………………………… 27

Environmental Law Analysis……………………………………………………………… 32

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………. 35

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Introduction

According to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; “Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen,

peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is

static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at

low tide does not exceed six metres."There are numerous wetland ecosystems and they are

considered one of the most productive habitats in the world; all continents possess wetlands

with the exception of Antarctica. They are very dynamic ecosystems in that they incorporate

both aquatic and terrestrial terrain. Their main functions are as follows:

Wetlands:

slow erosion

recharge groundwater

prevents flooding

act as buffers from storms

filter out pollutants and sediment

provide habitats for many species of plants and animals

serve as eco-tourist attractions

The Bahamas has a rich heritage of wetland ecosystems which comprise of these four main

mangrove trees:

Red Mangrove White Mangrove

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Black Mangrove Buttonwood

Out of the four types of mangroves, the red mangroves are the furthest offshore and the

closest to fresh and salt water ecosystems. The coastal red mangrove forests have many

uses summarized in the diagram below:

They are utilized especially as a nursery habitat for the larvae and juveniles of several

marine organisms including the Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper. These

mangroves are well suited role since their distinctive prop roots that serve as hiding places

for the larvae and juveniles and protect them from predation from larger organisms.

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“Compared to coral reefs, mangroves have a much lower number of large predators, and

thus provide a safe haven for juveniles to mature. Without the protection of mangrove

systems, many fish will be less likely to survive to the point where they can venture out to

reefs to reproduce. The health of wetlands is critical to the health of other marine

ecosystems. Studies in Mexico, Belize and other areas of the Caribbean demonstrate that

there is a higher biomass of fish on reefs when that habitat is connected to mangroves

(Mumby et al., 2004).” Bahamas National Trust

http://www.bnt.bs/UserFiles/HTMLEditor/doc617192748east_abaco_creeks_national_park

_proposal.pdf

Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus

Commonly referred to as the Florida spiny lobster, the Caribbean spiny lobster inhabits

tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Spiny

lobsters get their name from the forward-pointing spines that cover their bodies to help protect

them from predators. They vary in color from almost white to dark red-orange. Two large,

cream-colored spots on the top of the second segment of the tail make spiny lobsters easy to

identify. They have long antennae over their eyes that they wave to scare off predators and

smaller antennae-like structures called antennules that sense movement and detect chemicals

in the water.

Adult spiny lobsters make their homes in the protected crevices and caverns of coral

reefs, sponge flats, and other hard-bottomed areas. The lobsters spawn from March through

August and female lobsters carry the bright orange eggs on their undersides until they turn

Earth Day 2015

http://www.bnt.bs/UserFiles/HTMLEditor/doc617192748east_abaco_creeks_national_park_proposal.pdf

http://www.bnt.bs/UserFiles/HTMLEditor/doc617192748east_abaco_creeks_national_park_proposal.pdf

brown and hatch. Larvae can be carried for thousands of miles by currents until they settle in

shallow near shore areas among sea-grass and algae beds. They feed on small snails and crabs.

The lobsters are solitary until they reach the juvenile stage, when they begin to congregate

around protective habitat in near shore areas. As they begin to mature, spiny lobsters migrate

from the nursery areas to offshore reefs.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

(http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/lobster/facts/)

Queen Conch ( Strombas gigas )

The queen conch is a large, marine, gastropod mollusk. Mollusks are soft-bodied animals that may have a hard external shell composed of calcium carbonate, a hard internal shell, or no shell at all. Queen conchs have an external, spiral-shaped shell with a glossy pink or orange interior. Queen conchs achieve full size at about 3-5 years of age, growing to a maximum of about 12 inches (30.4 cm) long and weighing about 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

Queen conchs have separate sexes and reproduce through internal fertilization. After mating, females lay long egg masses that contain hundreds of thousands of eggs, which hatch after about 5 days. Larvae then spend about 18-40 days floating and feeding in the "plankton" before settling to the bottom and metamorphosing into the adult form. Once in their benthic, adult form, they graze on algae and detritus.

Queen conchs are prized for both their edible meat and attractive shell. The queen conch is found throughout the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and ranges as far north as Bermuda and as far south as Brazil. Queen conch abundance is declining throughout the species' range as a result of overfishing and poaching. Populations of the species in Honduras, Haiti, and the

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http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/lobster/facts/

Dominican Republic, in particular, are currently being exploited at rates that may be unsustainable.

Queen conch has been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1992.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationhttp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/queenconch.htm

Nassau Grouper ( Epinephelus striatus )

The Nassau grouper is an oblong, large fish with large eyes and coarse, spiny fins found

throughout the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, Florida, Bahamas, and

throughout the Caribbean Sea, south to Brazil. This grouper has a light, buff background color in

shallow water individuals, pinkish to red in those from deeper water. There are five irregular

dark brown vertical bars on each side and a large black saddle on the top of the caudal

peduncle. The third and fourth vertical bars form a W-shape above the lateral line. A tuning

fork-shaped mark is located on the forehead. Growing to a maximum of 4 feet (1.2 m) and

weighing over 50 pounds (22.7 kg), this grouper is one of the largest fish on the reef.

This grouper is common on offshore rocky bottoms and coral reefs throughout the

Caribbean region. They occur at a depth range extending to at least 295 feet (90 m), preferring

to rest near or close to the bottom. Juveniles are found closer to shore in seagrass beds or

wetland areas that offer a suitable nursery habitat.

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http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/queenconch.htm

The Nassau grouper forms large spawning aggregations from a few dozen to over

100,000 individuals. These aggregations form in depth of 65-130 ft (20-40 m) on the outer shelf

near the full moon during the winter months. Fertilization occurs by chance in the open waters,

large spawning aggregations further improve these chances. One such aggregation was

reported in the Bahamas which included as many as 100,000 fish. The eggs hatch into pelagic

larvae that drift along with the currents for a month or so, prior to becoming juveniles. The

larvae are characterized by kite-shaped bodies and elongated second dorsal spines. Juveniles

settle at lengths of approximately 32mm, residing in vegetated areas near coral clumps. At 120-

150mm in length, the juvenile Nassau groupers move out from vegetated areas to surrounding

patch reefs.

This fish is considered an important food fish throughout the Caribbean and in the West

Indies. Hook and line as well as traps are the main methods used to capture the Nassau

grouper. Currently all harvest of the Nassau grouper is prohibited in the U.S. It is also listed as a

candidate for the U.S. Endangered Species List. The Nassau grouper has been heavily fished and

vulnerable to overfishing. The spawning aggregations that appear at the same site each year

are easy targets for fishers. During these spawning events, the reproductively mature fish are

often caught. This further limits potential population growth through the removal of mature

females, leaving behind the young females that release fewer eggs for fertilization.

The Nassau Grouper is currently assessed as "Endangered" by the World Conservation Union

(IUCN).

Cathleen Bester, Florida Museum of Natural History

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/nassaugrouper/nassaugrouper.html

Conservation Actions – “In the Bahamas, three spawning aggregation sites, High Cay of the

coast of Central Andros and two sites off the east coast off Long Island were protected by law

from 17 Dec 1999 to 24 February 2000. In addition, fishing for Nassau grouper was banned

throughout the Bahamas from 12-26 February 2000 (M. Braynen press release, February 2000).

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http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/nassaugrouper/nassaugrouper.html

As of 2003, there is no enforcement (other than voluntary at one site) of fishery bans on

aggregations at any site in the Bahamas (Sir Nicholas Nuttall, pers. comm.).”

ICUN http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7862/0

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http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7862/0

Identification of Issue

According to studies, “there is a higher biomass of fish on reefs when that habitat is connected

to mangroves”. This proves that wetland ecosystems go a long way in boosting populations of

marine animals that are iconic food staples within countries. In spite of this, the Bahamas does

not utilize wetlands for the purposes of food security and conservation of species. The following

issues surround the use of wetlands:

Human influence on the wetland ecosystems in the Bahamas are mainly for the

purposes of dumping, housing and hotel development, eco-tourism and recreation

There are no laws that list mangrove forests as a protected species to ensure that

wetlands are not to be tampered with for human development

We are facing a decline in fish crops such as the spiny lobster, Queen Conch and Nassau

Grouper

The Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper are categorized as an endangered species

No amendments to the laws regarding the harvesting of the Nassau Grouper and

The general public is unaware of the benefits of the wetlands

Our hypothesis for this study is that wetlands are not being utilized for the purpose of food

security and species protection.

Studies undertaken by the Community Conch Organization in June-July 2011 supports the need

to help to boost conch populations within the Exuma Cays fishing grounds. Their conclusions

from the report are as follows:

- Conch densities are decreasing in commercially fished areas to levels that will not sustain

the populations.

- Areas such as the Berry Islands, Andros Islands, Lee Stocking Island and Warderick Wells

show evidence of collapsing populations over a 20 year period.

- Although the Exuma Land And Sea Park protects the conch inside of it, there is not

sufficient recruitment from outside of the park to maintain the conch population

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- Without changes in fisheries management policies, especially reduction of harvest, the

population will continue to decline

- Releases of hatchery reared conch in the Bahamas have not been successful in rebuilding

stocks.

Surveys of Queen Conch Populations and Reproductive Biology at Lee Stocking Island and the

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, The Bahamas:

http://www.communityconch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Exuma-Report-2011-

reduced.pdf

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http://www.communityconch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Exuma-Report-2011-reduced.pdf

http://www.communityconch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Exuma-Report-2011-reduced.pdf

Methodology

We intend to carry out our study as follows:

1. Student poll to determine the human influence on the wetlands during an in-class

discussion

2. Research of laws and statistics surrounding wetlands, Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper

using conservation status and law websites

3. Interview with local fisherman of his experience with crawfish catches

4. Survey to determine general knowledge of wetland usage, status of Spiny Lobster,

Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper and interest of using wetlands for food security and

conservation.

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Data Collection

1. Student poll to determine the human influence on the wetlands during in-class

discussion

We polled and identified four human uses of our Bahamian wetlands:

o Dumping

o Construction/ Development

o Eco-Tourism

o Recreation (includes swimming, fishing and visiting the area)

Dumping – Last year, we visited Adelaide’s mangroves. There was a significant amount of

dumping that took place. The following are pictures taken at the site:

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Individuals use the area to dispose of waste for convenience. However, the pollutants may have

an adverse effect on the ecosystem.

At Bonefish Pond National Park, hundreds of voulenteers participated in the Annual

International Coastal Cleanup Day in 2009. Four (4) tones of garbage and debris were collected.

The results of the top ten items collected are shown below:

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Top Ten Items Collected International Coastal Cleanup Day, 2009

Bonefish Pond National Park

Top Ten Debris Items Collected

Item TotalBuilding Materials

(tiles, roofing materials, doors, wiring etc.)

980

Beverage Cans 875Beverage Bottles (glass) 652

Beverage Bottles (plastic) 2 liters or less

564

Cars, Car Parts 416Cups, Plates, Forks,

Knives, Spoons344

Shotgun Shells/ Wadding 297Bags (paper) 285Bags (Plastic) 237

Clothing, Shoes 224http://www.dolphinencounters.com/dolphin_encounter-12.php

Formally the site of a landfill, The Big Pond Park is now a component of the

environmental mitigation plan for the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project to

be transformed into a park to be used by the public. In 2009, a contract was awarded to C. H.

Developers and Construction to conduct a land contamination study to access the extent of .

According to Mr. Neko Grant, the then Minister of Public works and Transport, the study would

satisfy requirements advanced by the BEST Commission in light of the previous use of the site

as a landfill.

“This investigation will determine whether or not significant pollution linkage exists.

Furthermore, it will assess the extent of any potential risks to human health and the

environment. The contaminated land investigation will also provide recommendations for

remediation based on its findings,” Mr. Grant said. Signs have been erected at the park showing

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http://www.dolphinencounters.com/dolphin_encounter-12.php

that the water of the red mangrove area must not be used for recreational use such as

swimming, fishing or drinking.

Contract signed for Big Pond Park Study http://www.bahamasnational.com/?q=node/359

Construction/ Housing - Within the past 50 years, New Providence has undergone a drastic

topological change. As the population increased, there was a greater demand for housing. In

areas that used to be densely foliated with mangrove trees are subdivisions and housing

projects. Additionally, due to our growing demand as a tourist attraction, coastal areas are

being cleared for hotel and resort developments. One such development that met with severe

environmental consequences was the Bimini Bay Resort.

The area was known for its rich species diversity of sharks such as the lemon shark and small-

toothed sawfish shown below:

Lemon Shark Small-toothed sawfish

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http://www.bahamasnational.com/?q=node/359

Because the area was not designated as a marine protected area, the mangroves were

bulldozed to make way for the resort. The consequences of the bulldozing of the Bimini Bay

were as follows:

the loss of a very species diverse habitat

high mortality rate of the juveniles of the lemon shark and small-toothed sawfish

The ultimate disappearance of the rare sharks that visited the mangroves.

air and land pollution,

water contamination and

Disruption of nursery grounds for other well known endemic species such as conch and

lobster.

Eco-tourism – Before its demolition, Bimini as well as islands such as Andros and Eleuthera

serve as tourist destinations for eco-friendly individuals as well as researchers that wish to

study the aspects of the wetlands.

Recreational Purposes – Members of our class state that they frequent mangrove areas such as

Big Pond and Bonefish Pond to fish, swim or to enjoy the sights. The new construction of Big

Pond Park has expanded to include the pond and a thoroughfare was opened by the entrance

of National Insurance on Blue Hill Road. We noticed that a lot of the mangrove trees were

removed or manicured for aesthetic purposes.

Ms. Shanique Albury, Environmental Specialist at the Min. of Public Works assures the facts

that turning the pond into a green space is a positive move towards environmental

stewardship. “If this isn’t taken in hand, managed and turned into something productive such

as Big Pond, the site will continue to be used for things that are negative from an

environmental perspective. By turning this into an urban green space, people will be able to

utilise it in a useful way and it will also help to discourage the negative things that are

happening in the area.”

Based on the poll, we included these questions as a part of the survey.

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2. Research of laws and statistics surrounding wetlands, Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper using conservation status and law websites

The result of the research is summarized in a table form:

Table 1: Possible Laws Related to Wetlands and the status of wetland species for each lawBahamas Laws Online www.laws.bahamas.gov.bs

Laws Status

Wet

land

s

Acquisition of Land Act (1913) Article 27 –

Compensation in respect of other land

affected

Compensation does not include crown

land and environmentally beneficial lands

such as wetlands.

Coastal Protection Act (1968) Article 9 –

Prohibitions of moving and excavating or

removal of materials from seashore

Mangrove trees are not included as items

not to be excavated from the seashore

Conservation and Protection of the Physical

Landscape of the Bahamas (Declaration of

Protected Trees) Order (2007)

Mangrove trees are not considered a

protected species.

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http://www.laws.bahamas.gov.bs/

Table 2: Summary Table of Laws Governing the Spiny Lobster, Nassau Grouper and Queen Conch and Conservation Status

Laws Spiny Lobster Nassau Grouper Queen ConchCatch Size A minimum catch size of 3 3/8

inches measured at the head or carapace or tail measuring 5 ½ inches

minimum legal size for a grouper which is 3 pounds

No person shall take, have in his possession or sell any conch the shell of which does not possess a well formed flaring lip.

Season Closed April 1 - 31 July **December 1 – February 28 Fishing Methods

wooden slat traps not more than 3 feet in length, 2 feet in width and 2 feet in height with slats placed not less than 1 inch apart

None specified None specified

Other Restrictions

The possession of egg-bearing female crawfish is prohibited as is the stripping or otherwise removing the eggs from the berried (egg-bearing) female.


Conservation Status (2015)

ICUN Red List: Data deficient IUCN Red List: EndangeredCITES:

IUCN Red List: not yet assessed**CITES: listed in Appendix II.**SPAW: listed in Annex III.

**New legislation passed in 2013: FISHERIES RESOURCES (JURISDICTION AND CONSERVATION) ACT CHAPTER244 FISHERIES RESOURCES (JURISDICTION AND CONSERVATION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2013

**CITES Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

** SPAW Annex III contain the agreed list of species of marine and coastal flora and fauna that may be utilized on a rational and sustainable basis and that require certain protection measures

FISHERIES RESOURCES (JURISDICTION AND CONSERVATION) ACT CHAPTER 244 http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2013/2013-0114/FisheriesResourcesJurisdictionandConservationAmendmentRegulations2013_1.pdf

ICUN http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/169976/0

SPAW http://www.cep.unep.org/pubs/legislation/spaw.html

CITES http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php

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http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php

http://www.cep.unep.org/pubs/legislation/spaw.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/169976/0

http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2013/2013-0114/FisheriesResourcesJurisdictionandConservationAmendmentRegulations2013_1.pdf

http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2013/2013-0114/FisheriesResourcesJurisdictionandConservationAmendmentRegulations2013_1.pdf

3. Interview with local fisherman of his experience with crawfish catches

Interviewer, Kennedy Rolle

Interviewee, Mr. Nicholas Pinder, Commercial Fisherman

Method of interview – Facebook Chat

1) How long have you been fishing?

12 years

Commercial for 9

2) Who introduced you to fishing?

Philip and Mack Pinder

3) What is their relation to you?

Uncle and father

4) Great! What fish crops do you specialize in?

Lobster

And small scale fish

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5) In the past 9 years, have you noticed an increase or decrease in lobster catches or are they still the same?

They fluctuate year to year

Down for a few

Up for a few

Lately they have been down

Personally I think (it is) influenced by weather

6) On average, how much pounds of lobster do you harvest a trip?

(On) my skiff, (about) 5000 in august and 3000 3 more times a season

7) How does the weather influence catches?

Moves lobster in different areas

8) That's interesting. Do you stand to make a lot of money from lobster catches?

As long as we can harvest and it be sustainably then we should be able to make a lot a money

Biggest threat to us is Dominican poachers

And the government not policing the waters

9) Wetlands help with the repopulation of lobster stocks. Do you think our laws are enough to make sure that we will have a good stock of lobsters?

Yes a great deal

And because of politics the wetlands are sold and destroyed the lobster populations decrease

10) Are the laws enough to protect the lobster population?

Not in the Bahamas

The season needs to be shortened

More and more lobster spawn (and) are egg berried in August and March. On the last trip, most females are full of eggs inside to be put on the fins.

We need protected wetlands or artificial wetlands

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And we need to look at the length of the season

11) Last question: personally, how would you feel if you were not able to fish for lobsters due to population depletion?

Depressed because it did not have to come to that

This can be monitored and policed properly by a fisheries department

12) Should we utilize wetlands as a means of regenerating fish stocks such as lobsters, groupers and conchs? And do you have any other comments?

Wetlands are the nursery for juveniles, the safety

A man did a study in long island with floating rings with netting and rope tied to it and in 8 months he had thousands of specimens mainly lobster clinging to it for safety. This will help but we need to protect the mangroves and wetlands. Personal greed or the politician is what is killing the Bahamas.

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3. Survey to determine general knowledge of wetland usage, status of Spiny Lobster,

Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper and interest of using wetlands for food security and

conservation.

Based on the research and data collected, we selected seven questions to be delivered to a

population of 160 students and teachers at the Government High School.

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Earth Day 2015Government High School Survey

Utilizing Wetlands and Protecting Endangered Marine Resources

1) What is the number one use of wetlands (mangrove swamps) by humans in the Bahamas?a. Dumpingb. Construction/ Housingc. Ecotourismd. Recreation (Fishing/ Swimming)

2) What is the best way to protect our wetlands and marine resources?a. Clean-upsb. Planting mangrove treesc. Making national parks/ protected areas for mangrovesd. Naming mangrove trees as a protected speciese. Making stricter laws to protect marine animals (seasons, catch sizes etc.)f. Educating the public about the importance of wetlands

3) Do you support the idea of using wetlands as a means to grow fish crops? Yes No

4) Did you know that crawfish is our main product of export? Yes No

5) Were you aware that the Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper are endangered species? Yes No

6) Will you be willing to eat other marine organisms besides the Nassau Grouper and Queen Conch? Yes No

7) Should we as Bahamians try to preserve wetlands to build populations of

Nassau Grouper, Queen Conch and Crawfish? Yes No

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Table 3: Raw data collected from Government High School poll

1) What is the number one use of wetlands (mangrove swamps) by humans in the Bahamas?

Option TallyDumping 62Construction/ Housing 18Ecotourism 36Recreation (Fishing/ Swimming) 46TOTAL 162

2) What is the best way to protect our wetlands and marine resources?

Option TallyClean-ups 72

Planting mangrove trees 5

Making national parks/ protected areas for mangroves

39

Naming mangrove trees as a protected species 4

Making stricter laws to protect marine animals (seasons, catch sizes etc.)

23

Educating the public about the importance of wetlands

24

TOTAL 167

3) Do you support the idea of using wetlands as a means to grow fish crops?

Option TallyYes 121No 35TOTAL 156

4) Did you know that crawfish is our main product of export and a multi-million dollar industry?

Option TallyYes 80No 79

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TOTAL 159

5) Were you aware that the Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper are endangered species?


6) Will you be willing to eat other marine organisms besides the Nassau Grouper and Queen Conch?


7) Should we as Bahamians try to preserve wetlands to build populations of

Nassau Grouper, Queen Conch and Crawfish?


Note: In questions with more than two options, the top two options are highlighted in yellow.

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Data Analysis

Data analyzed was taken from the school survey and is represented in the form of bar and pie charts for comparison. Percentages of the population that selected from the choices given were calculated:

Pie Chart 1: Results from Question 1 from Earth Day 2015 Survey

38%

11%22%

28%

What is the number one use of wetlands (mangrove swamps) by humans in the Bahamas?

Dumping

Construction/Housing

Eco-Tourism

Recreation

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Pie Chart 2: Results from Question 2 from Earth Day 2015 Survey

Clean-ups43%

Planting mangrove trees3%

Making na-tional parks/

protected areas for

mangroves23%

Naming mangrove trees as a protected

species2%

Making stricter laws to protect marine an-imals (sea-sons, catch sizes etc.)

14%

Educating the public about the

importance of wetlands

14%

What is the best way to protect our wetlands and marine resources?

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Bar Graph 1: Results from Question 3 from Earth Day 2015 Survey

Yes

No

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

121

35

Do you support the idea of using wetlands as a means to grow fish crops?


Yes

No

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

80

79

Did you know that crawfish is our main product of export and a multi-million dollar industry?

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Yes

No

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

112

49

Were you aware that the Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper are endangered

species?


Yes

No

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

112

50

Will you be willing to eat other marine organisms besides the Nassau Grouper

and Queen Conch?

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Yes

No

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

141

22

Should we as Bahamians try to preserve wetlands to build populations of Nassau Grouper, Queen

Conch and Crawfish?

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Environmental Law Analysis

Table 1: Possible Laws Related to Wetlands and the status of wetland species for each lawBahamas Laws Online www.laws.bahamas.gov.bs

Laws Status

Wet

land

s

Acquisition of Land Act (1913) Article 27 –

Compensation in respect of other land

affected

Compensation does not include crown

land and environmentally beneficial lands

such as wetlands.

Coastal Protection Act (1968) Article 9 –

Prohibitions of moving and excavating or

removal of materials from seashore

Mangrove trees are not included as items

not to be excavated from the seashore

Conservation and Protection of the Physical

Landscape of the Bahamas (Declaration of

Protected Trees) Order (2007)

Mangrove trees are not considered a

protected species.

Drawing reference to the table above, we suggest the following:

1) Introduce penalties such as fines to individuals that alter the health of beneficial wetlands areas by dumping or deforestation. The worth of the wetland should be determined by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

2) Include wetlands as items not to be excavated from the sea shore in coastal ecosystems deemed beneficial for the ecosystem. The worth of the wetland should be determined by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

3) Include coastal wetland trees close to coral reefs and sea grass beds in a Marine Protected Area (MPA)

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http://www.laws.bahamas.gov.bs/

Table 2: Summary Table of Laws Governing the Spiny Lobster, Nassau Grouper and Queen Conch and Conservation Status

Laws Spiny Lobster Nassau Grouper Queen ConchCatch Size A minimum catch size of 3 3/8

inches measured at the head or carapace or tail measuring 5 ½ inches

minimum legal size for a grouper which is 3 pounds

No person shall take, have in his possession or sell any conch the shell of which does not possess a well formed flaring lip.

Season Closed April 1 - 31 July **December 1 – February 28 Fishing Methods

wooden slat traps not more than 3 feet in length, 2 feet in width and 2 feet in height with slats placed not less than 1 inch apart


Other Restrictions

The possession of egg-bearing female crawfish is prohibited as is the stripping or otherwise removing the eggs from the berried (egg-bearing) female.


Conservation Status (2015)

ICUN Red List: Data deficient IUCN Red List: EndangeredCITES:

IUCN Red List: not yet assessed**CITES: listed in Appendix II.**SPAW: listed in Annex III.

**New legislation passed in 2013: FISHERIES RESOURCES (JURISDICTION AND CONSERVATION) ACT CHAPTER244 FISHERIES RESOURCES (JURISDICTION AND CONSERVATION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2013

**CITES Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

** SPAW Annex III contain the agreed list of species of marine and coastal flora and fauna that may be utilized on a rational and sustainable basis and that require certain protection measures

Drawing reference to the table above along with Mr. Pinder’s interview, we suggest the following:

1) Establish a closed season for the Queen Conch2) Shorten the open season for the Spiny Lobster3) Introduce specific fishing and harvesting methods for the Queen Conch and Nassau

Grouper

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4) Restrictions should be placed on the number of harvested conchs and groupers during the open season

5) Continue to minimize the export of the Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper.

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Conclusion

Based on our results, wetlands are not being utilized for the purposes of food security and species protection.

Based on our research and interview along with the survey, we have come up with the following conclusions:

Wetlands are ill used and are becoming damaged due to human activities All three fish crops are in danger of being over fished Laws in place are not enough to protect the species without proper monitoring and

enforcement Wetlands are proven beneficial for boosting the population of fish crops Generally, the public knows about the danger of depleting our marine resources and willing

to support efforts to conserve these three organisms

In our survey, we offered six ways to help to protect our wetlands and marine resources: the result of the poll is shown below:

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Clean-ups43%

Planting mangrove trees3%

Making na-tional parks/

protected areas for

mangroves23%

Naming mangrove trees as a protected

species2%

Making stricter laws to protect marine an-imals (sea-sons, catch sizes etc.)

14%

Educating the public about the

importance of wetlands

14%

What is the best way to protect our wetlands and marine resources?

We believe that all of these options should be undertaken to help to boost the populations of endangered species such as the Nassau Grouper and Queen Conch as well as the Caribbean Spiny Lobster. This is our suggested action plan:

1) Hold town meetings, forums and PSA announcements to the general public about the usage of wetlands by juvenile species and the importance of maintaining a pristine environment for them to boost their populations

2) Host cleanup efforts in areas of intense dumping (both inland and coastal wetland forests)

3) Incorporate more wetland areas within MPA’s4) Introduce amendments to laws suggested for wetlands, the Nassau Grouper, Spiny

Lobster and Conch5) Conduct research of coastal wetlands and impact on their environment

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6) Grow seedlings to transplant to reforest red mangroves forest in areas that show promise of benefiting greatly by the wetlands (i.e. Bimini) – 15-30 year period based on Matang Forest, Malaysia Statistics http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0105069#s4

Earth Day 2015

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0105069#s4

earth day 2015 project

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