FREEPORT - The creation of two national parks in East Grand Bahama, the Gap Marine National Park and the East Grand Bahama National Park, got the overwhelming support of residents of the area and stakeholders attending a townhall meeting in Pelican Point on June 5. During this meeting, government ministers dispelled the concerns of local fishermen that the areas proposed by the country's three major conservationist organizations would be declared a "no-take zone", effectively prohibiting fishing.
Minister of the Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett said the areas being proposed will be given special protection so that fishing, diving, boating and other recreational/commercial activities will be allowed.
Dorsett, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville and Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government V. Alfred Gray all gave East Grand Bahama residents and others in attendance at the townhall meeting a clear understanding of what is being proposed.
The proposals advanced by non-governmental organizations the Bahamas National Trust, the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF) and The Nature Conservancy following earlier consultancy and discussions with East End residents that yielded the boundaries that are expected to be forwarded to the government as a part of a Grand Bahama Marine Protected Area.
The North Shore - The Gap National Park
This proposed area is approximately 280,000 acres, and Grand Bahamians know this area as "The Gap". This name dates back to the 1950s at North Riding Point, when the pulpwood loading terminal was constructed.
Workers and their families lived at a logging camp community of 200 homes near the terminal, and this community of residences became known as "The Gap". Although these settlers dispersed at the end of the logging period, the area has retained the name to this day. The physical attributes of The Gap consist of mangrove wetlands, tidal creeks, sand and mud flats, beach strand and rocky shores, blue holes and unexplored karst cave system northeast of Dover Sound.
Fifty percent of the land within the park is owned by the Grand Bahama Development Company and the Grand Bahama Port Authority. Beyond the boundaries of Freeport is the government-owned land. Water Cay is the only inhabited area in this proposed site, however, the waters surrounding this cay are earmarked for protection.
East Grand Bahama National Park
This area is located south of Sweetings' Cay and spans over 12,500 acres. Many fishing habitats exist because of the tidal creeks in the area. The cited area possesses mangrove forests, an offshore reef system, explored blue hole systems and an undisturbed underground karst system.
Recently, a rapid ecological assessment was completed in the area by the Bahamas National Trust that generated biological information on the health of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the areas important for bonefish.

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