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:Wetlandsareessential habitatsto the livelihood of numerousfish cropswhich usewetland
marshesasa nursery habitatforjuvenilefish and larvae.However,ourBahamian population and laws
do not safeguard mangroveecosystems,degradingand demolishing themarshes forotherpurposes.
This paperwill demonstratetheimportanceof wetlandsto theSpiny Lobster,a heavily exported fish
crop, and the endangered Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper.Additionally,itwill seek to offersolutions
to regeneratepopulationsof theseparticularfish crops using methodswhich include the rehabilitation of
wetlandsand theassurancethathuman influenceswillnot tarnish their environmentalintegrity.

Earth Day 2015 Page 2
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Identification of
Issue………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Methodology................................................................................... ................. 10
Data Collection…………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Data Analysis……………………………………………………………………………………… 27
Environmental Law Analysis……………………………………………………………… 32
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………. 35

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

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.

“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

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.
FloridaFishandWildlifeConservationCommission
(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 calciumcarbonate, 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

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 Administration
http://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.

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).

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

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

- 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

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.

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:

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:

Top Ten Items Collected International Coastal Cleanup
Day, 2009
Bonefish Pond National Park
Top Ten Debris Items Collected
Item Total
Building Materials
(tiles, roofing materials, doors,
wiring etc.)
980
Beverage Cans 875
Beverage Bottles (glass) 652
Beverage Bottles (plastic) 2
liters or less
564
Cars, Car Parts 416
Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives,
Spoons
344
Shotgun Shells/ Wadding 297
Bags (paper) 285
Bags (Plastic) 237
Clothing, Shoes 224
http://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

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

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, swimor 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.

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 law
Bahamas Laws Online www.laws.bahamas.gov.bs
Laws Status
Wetlands
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.

Table 2: Summary Table of Laws Governing the Spiny Lobster, Nassau Grouperand Queen
Conch and Conservation Status
Laws Spiny Lobster Nassau Grouper Queen Conch
Catch Size A minimumcatchsize of 3 3/8
inchesmeasuredatthe heador
carapace or tail measuring5 ½
inches
minimumlegal sizeforagrouper
whichis3 pounds
No personshall take,have in
hispossessionorsell any
conch the shell of whichdoes
not possessawell formed
flaringlip.
Season Closed April 1 - 31 July **December 1 – February 28 
Fishing
Methods
woodenslattrapsnot more
than 3 feetinlength,2 feetin
widthand2 feetinheightwith
slatsplacednotlessthan 1 inch
apart
None specified None specified
Other
Restrictions
The possessionof egg-bearing
female crawfishisprohibitedas
isthe strippingorotherwise
removingthe eggsfromthe
berried(egg-bearing) female.
Conservation
Status (2015)
ICUN Red List: Data deficient IUCN Red List: Endangered
CITES:
 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 notnecessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be
controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatiblewith their survival.
** SPAW Annex III contain the agreed listof species of marineand coastal floraand fauna thatmay be utilized on a
rational and sustainablebasisand thatrequirecertain 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

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

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

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.

3. Survey to determine generalknowledge 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.

Earth Day 2015
Government High School Survey
Utilizing Wetlands and Protecting Endangered Marine Resources
1) What isthe numberone use of wetlands(mangroveswamps) byhumansinthe Bahamas?
a. Dumping
b. Construction/Housing
c. Ecotourism
d. Recreation(Fishing/Swimming)
2) What isthe bestwayto protectour wetlandsandmarine resources?
a. Clean-ups
b. Plantingmangrove trees
c. Making national parks/protectedareasformangroves
d. Namingmangrove treesasa protectedspecies
e. Making stricterlawstoprotect marine animals(seasons,catchsizesetc.)
f. Educatingthe publicaboutthe importance of wetlands
3) Do you supportthe ideaof usingwetlands asa meansto grow fishcrops? Yes No
4) Didyou knowthat crawfishis ourmain productof export? Yes No
5) Were youaware that the QueenConchandNassauGrouper are endangered
species? Yes No
6) Will yoube willingtoeatothermarine organismsbesidesthe NassauGrouper
and QueenConch? Yes No
7) Shouldwe asBahamianstry to preserve wetlandstobuildpopulationsof
NassauGrouper,QueenConchandCrawfish? Yes No

Table 3: Raw data collected from Government High School poll
1) What isthe numberone use of wetlands(mangroveswamps) byhumansinthe Bahamas?
Option Tally
Dumping 62
Construction/Housing 18
Ecotourism 36
Recreation(Fishing/Swimming) 46
TOTAL 162
2) What isthe bestwayto protectour wetlandsandmarine resources?
Option Tally
Clean-ups 72
Plantingmangrove trees 5
Making national parks/protectedareasfor
mangroves
39
Namingmangrove treesasa protectedspecies 4
Making stricterlawstoprotect marine animals
(seasons,catchsizesetc.)
23
Educatingthe publicaboutthe importance of
wetlands
24
TOTAL 167
3) Do you supportthe ideaof usingwetlands asa meansto grow fishcrops?
Option Tally
Yes 121
No 35
TOTAL 156
4) Didyou knowthat crawfishis ourmain productof export and a multi-milliondollarindustry?
Option Tally
Yes 80
No 79
TOTAL 159

5) Were youaware that the QueenConchandNassauGrouper are endangered
species?
Option Tally
Yes 112
No 49
TOTAL 161
6) Will yoube willingtoeatothermarine organismsbesidesthe NassauGrouper
and QueenConch?
Option Tally
Yes 112
No 50
TOTAL 162
7) Shouldwe asBahamianstry to preserve wetlandstobuildpopulationsof
NassauGrouper,QueenConchand Crawfish?
Option Tally
Yes 141
No 22
TOTAL 163
Note: In questions with more than two options, the top twooptions are highlighted in yellow.

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%
29%
What is the number one use of wetlands (mangrove
swamps) by humans in the Bahamas?
Dumping
Construction/Housing
Eco-Tourism
Recreation

Pie Chart 2: Results from Question 2 from Earth Day 2015 Survey
Clean-ups
43%
Plantingmangrove
trees
3%
Makingnational
parks/ protected
areas for mangroves
23%
Naming mangrove
trees as a protected
species
3%
Makingstricter laws
to protect marine
animals (seasons,
catch sizes etc.)
14%
Educatingthe public
about the
importance of
wetlands
14%
What is the best way toprotect our wetlands andmarine
resources?

Bar Graph 1: Results from Question 3 from Earth Day 2015 Survey
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Yes
No
121
35
Do you support the idea of using wetlands as a
means to grow fish crops?
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Yes
No
80
79
Did you know that crawfish is our main product
of export and a multi-million dollar industry?

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Yes
No
112
49
Were you aware that the Queen Conch and
Nassau Grouper are endangered
species?
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Yes
No
112
50
Will you be willing to eat other marine organisms
besides the Nassau Grouper
and Queen Conch?

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Yes
No
141
22
Should we as Bahamians try to preserve wetlands
to build populations of Nassau Grouper, Queen
Conch and Crawfish?

Environmental Law Analysis
Table 1: Possible Laws Related to Wetlands and the status of wetland species for each law
Bahamas Laws Online www.laws.bahamas.gov.bs
Laws Status
Wetlands
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)

Table 2: Summary Table of Laws Governing the Spiny Lobster, Nassau Grouperand Queen
Conch and Conservation Status
Laws Spiny Lobster Nassau Grouper Queen Conch
Catch Size A minimumcatchsize of 3 3/8
inchesmeasuredatthe heador
carapace or tail measuring5 ½
inches
minimumlegal sizeforagrouper
whichis3 pounds
No personshall take,have in
hispossessionorsell any
conch the shell of whichdoes
not possessawell formed
flaringlip.
Season Closed April 1 - 31 July **December 1 – February 28 
Fishing
Methods
woodenslattrapsnot more
than 3 feetinlength,2 feetin
widthand2 feetinheightwith
slatsplacednotlessthan 1 inch
apart
Other
Restrictions
The possessionof egg-bearing
female crawfishisprohibitedas
isthe strippingorotherwise
removingthe eggsfromthe
berried(egg-bearing) female.
Conservation
Status (2015)
ICUN Red List: Data deficient IUCN Red List: Endangered
CITES:
 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 notnecessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be
controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatiblewith their survival.
** SPAW Annex III contain the agreed listof species of marineand coastal floraand fauna thatmay be utilized on a
rational and sustainablebasisand thatrequirecertain 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 Conch
2) Shorten the open season for the Spiny Lobster
3) Introduce specific fishing and harvesting methods for the Queen Conch and Nassau
Grouper

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.

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:

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’s
4) Introduce amendments to laws suggested for wetlands, the Nassau Grouper, Spiny
Lobster and Conch
5) Conduct research of coastal wetlands and impact on their environment
Clean-ups
43%
Plantingmangrove
trees
3%
Makingnational
parks/ protected
areas for mangroves
23%
Naming mangrove
trees as a protected
species
3%
Makingstricter
laws to protect
marineanimals
(seasons,catch
sizes etc.)
14%
Educatingthe public
about the
importance of
wetlands
14%
What is the best way toprotect our wetlands andmarine
resources?

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

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