A Companion Guide to theFully-Protected Marine Reserves Public Exhibition

Sponsored byBREEF, The Nature Conservancy, and the Department of Fisheries

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

A round the world, fishermen and fisheries managers have seen a dramatic decline in fish stocks due to factorssuch as overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. To address this problem, fully-protected marine

reserves have gained wide acceptance as an important tool for marine conservation, in addition to conventionalmanagement tools such as closed seasons, size limits, and fishing gear restrictions. Fully-protected marine reservesare important for the future of our oceans and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The principal commercial fisheries in The Bahamas are crawfish, conch, shallow-water scale fish (groupers, jacks, snappers, and grunts), sponge, stone crab, queenhelmet shells, and deep-water scale fish (red snappers).

What is a fully-protected marine reserve?

A fully-protected marine reserve is an ocean or coastal area protected from fishing and other extractive or harm-ful uses. This protection allows some activities and restricts others, while still offering substantial benefits to

biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.

Hello, I am

Michael T BraynenDirector of Fisheries

In considering thegreat importance ofthe fishing industryin The Bahamas, TheDepartment ofFisheries pursues a

number of avenues to ensure the sustainabilityof the country’s marine resources. The conceptof using fully protected marine reserves as afisheries management tool has been fullyembraced by us, recognizing at the sametime that there are other benefits to bederived from them.

Since the decision of the government to establish amarine reserves in 2000 The Department of Fisheries,in conjunction with various partners, has been takingthe message throughout The Bahamas and gatheringinput from those communities closest to the areaswhere the first five reserves are to be located. Thisbooklet is one important step in that process.

The fishing sector plays an impor-

tant role in the economy of The

Bahamas and the Bahamian way of

life. Did you know there are almost

9,000 fishermen in The Bahamas?

Vessel owners and operators earned

some B$102.7 million in 2002.

Additionally, export of crawfish,

scale fish, and inedible marine

products (such as sponge and

helmet shells) resulted in US$99.5

million in foreign exchange in 2002.

Marine protected area (MPA) is a general

term for areas that receive any sort of protec-

tion, including marine parks, sanctuaries, and

fully protected marine reserves. These may

have different levels of restrictions on various

activities. For example, “no-take reserves”

emphasize the restriction on extraction of

resources from the area.

Globally, stocks of large fish, such as groupers, cod,swordfish, and tuna havedeclined by 90% in the last50 years. Marine reserveshave been established tohelp troubled fisheries incountries including TheBahamas, the United States,Belize, New Zealand, ThePhilippines, and South Africa.

Activities that are regulated or prohibited in fully-protected marinereserves typically include:ä Fishing or

collecting wildlifeä Mining, drilling,

or dredgingä Dumping, or

discharge of any material into reserve waters

ä Vessel anchoring or mooring

ä Snorkeling and scuba diving

ä Feeding, touching or otherwise disturbing wildlife

2

(1,2

) Kat

e Ho

lmes

,AM

NH-C

BC

Crai

g Da

hlgr

en

How are fully-protectedmarine reserves good forfish and good for you? An ecosystem is the sum of interac-

tions between living things and theirphysical environment.

Ecosystem services are the benefits to humans from naturalprocesses such as fish production, waterfiltration, flood control by mangroves andother wetlands, and natural protectionfor shorelines provided by barrier reefs.

Fully-protected marine reserves have the potential to provide a number of environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Maintaining fisheries and other ecosystem servicesFish stocks have increased in most existing reserves andthere is increasing evidence that these larger populationsspill over into adjacent areas where fishing is allowed.Reserves can also seed adjacent fished areas with larvaefrom spawning that takes place inside the reserve. Spilloverand seeding benefit subsistence, commercial, and sport fisher-men — and consumers! Fully-protected marine reserves help maintain intact ecosystemsand ensure that we continue to receive important ecosystem services.

Conserving species and habitatsFully-protected marine reserves protect habitats and provide the opportunity for differentspecies to thrive and recover from fishing pressures. In addition, scientists can compareenvironmental processes inside and outside of reserves, thereby improving our understand-ing of biodiversity and the function of ecosystems.

Insuring against uncertaintyFully-protected marine reserves provide a refuge and a buffer against some of the uncertainties in traditional fisheries management (such as rates of fish reproduction andenvironmental variability) that sometimes lead to population crashes. Areas that are protected from pressure from fishing and other human activities maintain healthy habitatsand recover from catastrophic events (such as hurricanes) more quickly than areas that are not protected.

Boosting the economyA healthy marine environment can offer economic opportunities. In addition to or as an alternative to fishing, fishermen can get involved in ecotourism by taking tourists out in boats for snorkeling or wildlife viewing. Other people may work in local hotels,restaurants, or shops that cater to tourists.

Providing recreational areasBahamians and tourists alike enjoy a clean and healthy marine environment for recreational activities such as picnicking, snorkeling, and diving.

A larva is the immature,free-living, form of most marineinvertebrates and fish.Did you know that crawfishlarvae can float in the oceanfor up to a year, travelingseveral hundred miles beforethey settle to the bottom asjuvenile crawfish?

Ecotourism is “responsi-ble travel to natural areas thatconserves the environmentand improves the well-beingof local people.” — TheInternational EcotourismSociety

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, refers to thevariety of life in all its formsand the interactions amongthem. Coral reefs and surrounding waters of TheBahamas are known to contain very high levels ofbiodiversity. People are onlybeginning to understand thepotential value of many ofthese plants and animals tohumans, and to maintaininghealthy ecosystems. We arealso only beginning tounderstand the threats tothis biodiversity and theimportance of protecting it.

A habitat is a place wherean animal or plant lives. This“home” has all the necessaryenvironmental conditions forsurvival.

The 176-square mile Exuma Park was establishedin 1959 and designated as fully-protected in 1986.

“Spillover” occurs when

populations of animals

inside marine reserves

increase over time, causing

some animals to eventually

move into less crowded

neighboring areas where

they can be caught by

fishermen. “Seeding”

occurs when larvae

spawned in the reserve

drift out and settle

in fished areas. These

young animals boost popu-

lations in surrounding

waters. Through the

processes of spillover and

seeding, reserves can

replenish nearby fishing

areas. 3

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park —Birthplace of Millions!Studies show that the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Parkplays an important role as a replenishment area for speciesthat are exploited in surrounding waters. The concentrationof conch inside the Exuma Park has been estimated to be 31 times greater than outside the Park. The adult and larvalconch that leave the Park provide several million conch forfishermen to harvest each year. Crawfish spawned in thePark could be repopulating areas around Cat Island – 70miles away. And groupers tagged in the Park were foundoff both North and South Long Island – 150 miles away!

Why do fully-protected marine reserves need toinclude different kinds of habitat

M any animals use more than one type of habitat during their lives. For example,

Nassau groupers spend their early lives in mangrovecreeks before moving offshore to shallow patchreefs in seagrass beds. As adults, they live on deeper reefs. During their reproductive season, theymigrate to spawning aggregations near the edgeof reefs and banks. Fertilized eggs, fish embryos,and larvae float in the open ocean. If one or moreof these habitats becomes degraded, groupers maynot be able to complete their life cycle.For fully-protected marine reserves to ensure theprotection and restoration of biodiversity and theenhancement of sustainable fisheries, they must

include critical habitats —such as breeding groundsand nursery areas, whereyoung fish live and grow.They should also include allhabitat areas or types need-ed for the entire life cycleof most marine species.

I am JessicaMinnis, asocial sciencelecturer at theCollege of TheBahamas.I have been collaboratingon the

Bahamas Biocomplexity Project, whichaims to understand both the natural andhuman processes that influence marinereserve networks. We have learned thatExuma residents see the need to supportreserves in order to protect their fishinglivelihood from poachers and fromincreasing numbers of fishermen comingin with big nets and bleach that deplete thefishery and damage the coral reef habitat.Residents also want to ensure that in thefuture there will be fish for their families,that marine life will be conserved and theirchildren will be able to benefit from it. It isessential that local people participate inmaintaining reserves so they don’t feelthey have lost control of their environmentand by extension, of their livelihood.

My name isTavarrieSmith. As astudent in Ms.Minnis’ssocialresearchcourse, Ilearned about

methods for collecting data. I participatedas a researcher in the study to betterunderstand the reasons why people do ordo not support marine reserves. We talkedto people about how important the sea isto their way of life. I learned, especiallyfrom senior members of the community,about traditional fishing grounds, fishingmethods, and other important parts of ourundocumented history. I learned what ittruly means to be a Bahamian.

Mangroves are trees that are found in the transi-tion zone between the land and the sea. They forman important habitat for many juvenile fishes(they are a nursery for about 80% of commerciallyimportant fish species) and for other animals, suchas lobsters, land crabs, bats, and birds. Mangrovesalso serve as a filter and trap sediments, therebyprotecting coral reef habitats.

Tidal flats are areas that may beunder water at high tide andexposed at low tide. They areimportant habitats for sand-dwelling species such as conchs,which, as juveniles, bury them-selves for almost a year to feedand grow.

Adapted from the mural created by Charlene Carey forthe Fully-Protected MarineReserves Public Exhibition

A life cycle is the series ofstages an animal or plant passesthrough during its lifetime.

Critical habitat is a par-ticular habitat that an organismmust have in order to success-fully complete its life cycle.

Bahamians depend on the ocean and coastal habitats for their livelihood and recreation.These habitats form the structure for many of our activities, and are also affected by them.

4

e reserves need totats?

Hi, I’m Dr. Craig Dahlgren, a marine biologist and senior research scientist at the Perry Institutefor Marine Science on Lee Stocking Island in the Exumas. I study how the diversity of plantsand animals found on the sea floor differs in marine reserves from surrounding areas. I havefound out that fish communities within marine reserves are very different from those outside ofreserves. In the reserves there is a higher abundance of large top predators — like snappers,groupers and barracudas, and I’m learning about the effects that these have on prey speciesand other organisms. This research, along with studies I am conducting on the spillover effect,help us understand how marine reserves can support fisheries. They also indicate criteria foreffective marine reserve design, such as location, size, shape, and habitats to include.

Seagrass beds are areas of sub-merged grasses that provide habitatand nursery grounds for recreation-ally and commercially important fishand other animals, including turtles,conch, and ballyhoo. Seagrasseshelp to trap sediments from the landand stabilize the sea floor.

Coral reefs are formed by a variety of corals andother animals and plants. Though reefs cover lessthan 1% of the Earth’s surface, they have the highestbiodiversity of any marine ecosystem. Coral reefs provide shelter and food for spiny lobsters, groupers,and thousands of other marine animals. These “rain-forests of the sea” are extremely important to Bahamiansas a source of food, recreation, and tourism.

The open ocean is calledthe pelagic zone. Herelarvae and other tinyorganisms are distributed.The open ocean is a major“roadway” for migratoryspecies like turtles,whales, and dolphins.

Spawning aggregations refer to large gatherings of a species of fish, ata particular place and time, for the purpose of reproducing. Many commerciallyimportant fish species in The Bahamas form spawning aggregations. Theseinclude several species of snapper and grouper, such as the Nassau grouperand mutton snapper, and also bar jacks. Spawning aggregations account fora large percentage, if not all, of the reproductive activity of these fishes.

“Unlike any other form of management, fully-protectedmarine reserves are uniquelycapable of protecting marineecosystems — not just a handfulof species — and are essential to keep these systems functioningin a way that maintains stability.”

— Dr. Craig Dahlgren

5

Kate

Hol

mes

,AM

NH-C

BC

Phil

Bush

Kate

Hol

mes

,AM

NH-C

BC

A network of fully-protectedmarine reserves, such as the

group of reserves being set upthroughout The Bahamas, can bemore beneficial in protecting marinelife than any reserve can by itself.Together the reserves in a networkshould include the full range ofmarine habitats, be large enoughand well-connected enough to protect marine populations, and also have the support of thehuman communities who use themarine resources.

Why is it importantto have a networkof reserves?

Hello, I am TamicaRahming. I am amarine biologist andFisheries Officer at theDepartment of Fisherieswith responsibility forconservation, research,and public educationactivities. The Depart-

ment of Fisheries’ Marine Reserves Network Projectaims to ensure the viability of the nation’s valuablefisheries, as well as the long-term protection of the marine habitats that are characteristic of TheBahamas. I have been involved in coral reef moni-toring, Nassau grouper and conch research, and I also consult with local communities and fishinginterests to determine specific sites and boundariesfor reserves.

A well-designed network of fully-protected marine reserves is guided bya number of principles:

Representation

A network should include the full range of species, habitats, and other features important for conservation. In addition, it should represent these ina way that reflects the natural composition of the marine environment. Thedesign process should assess what is protected in existing reserves anddetermine what other areas are needed to complement these.

Replication

Including multiple areas with separate populations of the same species andthe same kinds of habitats helps to ensure that if there were a catastrophicevent — such as a disease outbreak, hurricane, or oil spill — some of thespecies would survive. In this way, a network can provide a broader “insur-ance plan” than a single reserve can.

Connectivity

A well-designed network is more than just the sum of its parts. In otherwords, the design should incorporate ecological connections among protectedsites so that the whole network can reseed and sustain itself. For example,some species require that certain habitats be close enough so that individualscan move among them as they grow. Other marine species with larvae thatdisperse over long distances may only be protected if distant sites containhealthy habitats.

Adequacy

A network should provide enough protection for populations, species, andcommunities to persist into the future. Scientists suggest that networksshould protect at least 20% of an entire marine area to allow for sufficientconservation benefits while leaving ample area outside for fishing or otherhuman uses. The actual size and number of individual reserves in a networkdepend upon the species to be protected and the level of protection desired.

Efficiency

A network balances costs and benefits. Besidesthe adequacy principle, efficient network designshould consider current and future threats tobiodiversity and ecosystems; social, political, andeconomic opportunities for establishing reserves;and costs of ongoing management and enforce-ment in different places. Given such factors, network design must be flexible and practical so that conservation objectives can be met alongwith acceptable social and economic outcomes.

Here’s what fishermen are saying abouthow the decline in fisheries affects themand the Bahamian economy:

“In the 70’s when I used to dive, youcould go in there and get as muchconch as you want. You can’t do thatnow. You have to search. They used to say that conch would never run out.That’s just how much there used tobe, but they’re running out and fasttoo.” — Freddy Delancy

“When a fisherman makes moneyeveryone makes money. When fisher-men don’t make money everyone suffers.” — Hardy McKinney

6

Kate

Hol

mes

,AM

NH-C

BC

Kate

Hol

mes

,AM

NH-C

BC

EVERYONE HAS A STAKEIN MARINE RESERVES

Hi, my name is Eleanor Phillips, director of The NatureConservancy’s Bahamas Program. Prior to joining theConservancy, I worked at the Department of Fisherieswhere I helped get the Marine Reserves NetworkProject started. I have worked with other environmentalagencies and consulted with community members togenerate support for the implementation of reserves.Marine reserves provide an “insurance policy” againstthe collapse of fisheries, especially in conjunction with

other regulations, like closed seasons and size limits. Once reserve boundaries areenforced and respected — allowing the organisms within to thrive and reproduce— potential spillover to outside areas can benefit commercial fisheries.

Learn about your environment.

• Be familiar with the different marinehabitats and their functions in order tomake informed decisions.

• Spread the word. Share your knowledgeand interest in the marine environmentto encourage others to learn the impor-tance of marine conservation.

Support sustainable fisheries.

• Don’t use harmful or prohibitedchemicals.

• Be carefulwhere you drop your boatanchor. Corals and othermarine life can be easilydamaged.

• Respect catch limits and closed seasons.

• Don’t take juvenile fish, conch, or lobster.

• Be an informed consumer. Considercarefully the fish and marine objectsthat you buy or sell — is their harvestsustainable?

Take part in establishing marine reserves.

• Participate in the designation of marinereserves near you by attending meetingsand sharing your knowledge.

• Respect the boundaries and regulationsassociated with existing reserves.

• Support local conservation organizationsand governmental agencies that help toprotect our marine environment.

Take action in your community!

• Participate in beach and wetland clean-ups, such as The Ocean Conservancy’sInternational Coastal Cleanup that takesplace every year in September.

• Use cloth napkins and re-useable plates,cups, and utensils. The majority ofdebris collected on our beaches is paperand plastics from picnics.

• Start your own waste reduction andrecycling efforts. Less garbage going to your community landfill means lesswaste carried into the ocean or seepinginto the ground and into the marineenvironment.

• Inspect your septic system regularly.If septic systems are not maintainedproperly they can contribute to waterquality problems at home and in the ocean.

• Don’t use chemical pesticides and fertilizers in gardens or fields. Theseproducts end up in the watershed andimpact the marine environment.

• Report dumping or other illegal activities.Environmental enforcement cannot beeverywhere, and your involvement canmake a big difference.

“By conserving our marineresources, Bahamians will havethe opportunity to pass our environmental inheritance on tofuture generations, as well assafeguard a large portion of our culture and our economicprosperity.” — Dr. Livingston Marshall

Marine reserves are one of the important management tools for sustaininga healthy environment and the living resources of The Bahamas.

Currently marine protected areas account formuch less than 1% of the world’s oceans, andof these, only a tiny fraction are fully-pro-tected reserves. Let’s support marine reservesto protect our oceans and our livelihoods.

“Marine conservation is everyone’s business becausewe all are affected by, and benefit from, ourmarine resources.”—Tamica Rahming

What can you do to support marine conservation?

Hello, I am CasuarinaMcKinney, executivedirector of the BahamasReef EnvironmentEducational Foundation.BREEF is a non-profitdedicated to protectingour Bahamian marineenvironment through

education. We organize conferences to help students,educators, and the public make decisions about howbest to benefit from our ocean and the life in it with-out using it up. Our environment and economy areconnected; we all benefit from a healthy environment,and we all suffer if it is degraded.

The first national closed

season for Nassau grouper

was January 1-31, 2004,

protecting grouper in

spawning aggregations.

The yearly closed season for

lobster is April 1 through

July 31.

7

“I serve as scientific consultant andadvisor to the Prime Minister on arange of environmental and especiallymarine-related issues. This roleaffords me an opportunity to con-tribute to policy, research and educa-tional aspects of sound environmentalstewardship in The Bahamas.”

— Dr. Livingston Marshall.

Community-Based Conservation for Bahamian Marine Protected Areas and Critical Marine HabitatsThis project aims to educate Family Island communities about nearby fully-protected marine reserves. The Bahamas Department of Fisheries, The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF),and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have partnered in this educational program to support the Departmentof Fisheries’ initiative to establish a national network of fully-protected marine reserves.

Department of FisheriesP.O. Box N-3028Nassau, The Bahamas242-393-1777242-393-0238 (fax)fisheries@bahamas.gov.bs

The Nature ConservancyCaves Village, Building 5, Suite 2West Bay StreetP.O. Box CB-11398Nassau, The Bahamas242-327-2414242-327-2417 (fax)www.nature.orgbahamas@tnc.org

BREEFWest Bay StreetP.O. Box N-7776Nassau, The Bahamas242-362-6477242-362-6478 (fax)www.breef.orgbreef@breef.org

Bahamas National TrustThe Retreat, Village RoadP.O. Box N-4105Nassau, Bahamas242-393-1317242-393-4978www.bahamasnationaltrust.combnt@batelnet.bs

O t h e r C o l l a b o r a t o r s

Written and edited by Meg Domroese and Christine Engels in collaboration with Linda Hammerton and Shenique AlburyDesign by James Lui

Information sources referenced for this booklet include:

Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans. 2002. The Science of Marine Reserves.www.piscoweb.org

Roberts, C.M. and J.P. Hawkins. 2000. Fully-protected marine reserves: A guide. WWF Endangered Seas Campaign, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA and Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. www.panda.org/endangeredseas/

© 2004 The Bahamas Department of Fisheries, The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy

We gratefully acknowledge the following people for their contributions and comments on the text: Craig Dahlgren, Livingston Marshall, Casuarina McKinney, Jessica Minnis, Eleanor Phillips, Tamica Rahming,and Tavarrie Smith. We appreciate the review and insightful suggestions of Bill Alevizon, Louise Barry, Dan Brumbaugh, Lynn Gape, Patricia Glinton, Mark Hixon, Kate Holmes, Jimin Lee, Hamblin Newbold,Amy O’Donnell, Jennifer Stenzel, and Eleanor Sterling.

American Museum of Natural HistoryCenter for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC)Central Park West at 79th St.New York, N.Y. 10024 USA212-769-5742212-769-5292 (fax)cbc.amnh.orgbiodiversity@amnh.org

The CBC coordinates The Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP), a collaboration of scientists with various governmental and non-governmentalgroups to conduct studies in The Bahamas of the complex environmentaland social factors that affect the design, management, and effectiveness ofnetworks of marine protected areas. The BBP is a five-year initiative fundedprimarily by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Stua

rt Co

ve’s

Nas

sau,

Baha

mas

Printed on Recycled Paper