Parrotfish, sea urchins, sponges and coral are flourishing in the crystal-clear waters off the $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort, as the luxury destination has completed the installation of more than 300 eco-coral antlers to enhance its artificial reef experience.
Steps to encourage coral and marine life at Baha Mar began in April 2014, when Baha Mar’s environmental team began the installation of coral antlers and 48 reef balls on the seabed. The installation wrapped up in mid-July, when the final coral antlers were placed.
The endangered staghorn coral in particular will be fostered in waters near Baha Mar, when a new coral nursery is introduced. The nursery is part of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Bahamas Coral Conservation project, which is expanding coral nurseries and restoring reefs in waters surrounding New Providence, Bahamas. Baha Mar recently made a donation to the project which has a goal to plant one billion corals globally by 2025.
According to TNC there has been a reported 90 percent decline in critically endangered coral species over the last 30 years. Director of TNC’s Northern Caribbean program, Eleanor Phillips said The Bahamas relies on a healthy marine environment for the survival and livelihoods of thousands.
“Coral reefs are habitats for many fish species and healthier reefs mean healthier fisheries,” Phillips said. “Tourists come here for our environment – they come here to dive; they come here to see our beautiful country. We want to do our part to restore some of the reefs and improve the habitats.”
Through its partnership with Baha Mar, TNC will plant1,000 fragments of staghorn coral in waters off Baha Mar. When the coral fragments have grown to a suitable size for outplanting, they will be transplanted to a reef near Baha Mar. That process is expected to take six to twelve months.
Thanking Baha Mar for its support, Philips said, “Those corals are going to help to restore the surrounding reefs naturally. We’re not hoping to rebuild reefs, we’re hoping to put enough coral out there so they can spawn and populate other areas – just giving nature a help hand.” According to Baha Mar Aquarist, Kendria Ferguson, Baha Mar is redefining the role of a resort in The Bahamas by taking proactive steps to preserve the environment.
“We are creating a new reef for fish to flourish. Our environmental team is emphasizing the importance of protecting the environment and introducing guests and our staff to how fish move from reef to reef. Our eco-reef is designed to resemble a real coral reef and over time the reef balls and coral antlers will be filled in and covered by a living reef, attracting beautiful sea life,” Ferguson explained.
These reef balls stand just over four feet tall with a six-foot diameter at the base. Weighing in at around 5,000 pounds, each reef ball features about 35 holes that provide protective void spaces for fish while creating whirlpools that facilitate the transportation of nutrients to animals and plants living on and around the structures.
The coral antlers were selected to compliment the reef balls because of the ability to cover large areas of the sea floor while remaining aesthetically pleasing, which are important considerations in shallow waters. The coral antlers are made of eco-friendly, non-toxic, ceramic materials, designed to enhance rather than intrude on the natural habitat of marine life, providing prime conditions for coral settlement, growth and adhesion. Volunteers assisted the environmental team with attaching thirty branches to each 55-pound antler before installation.
According to the environmental team, fish were immediately attracted to the eco-reef layout, which is designed to closely resemble a naturally occurring coral reef.
“Baha Mar’s environmental initiatives were designed to inspire guests, employees, partners and neighbors to conserve, preserve and protect the natural beauty of The Bahamas,” said Baha Mar’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul V. Pusateri. “In partnering with non-profit environmental stakeholders, Baha Mar is helping to preserve and protect the environment so that the natural beauty of the Bahamas can be enjoyed by future generations.”
In July of this year, a pair of young divers from Young Marine Explorers (YME), a Bahamian non-profit environmental organization, assisted Baha Mar’s environmental team for two weeks in the installation of the coral antlers. YME was founded by Bahamian Nikita Shiel-Rolle while she was pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Miami in 2007. The organization works to unite Bahamian youth who are interested in studying and preserving the environment of The Bahamas.
In the months since the first elements of the eco-reef were introduced, Ferguson says snorkelers have spotted blue tangs, bar jacks, barracuda, spotted-eagle rays, angelfish, starfish, four-eye butterfly fish, ocean surgeonfish, pinfish, and juvenile and adult Nassau Grouper.
Over time, Ferguson says the information gathered from the productivity and success of the artificial reef can be used to assess solutions to help repair damaged reefs or create new ones throughout The Bahamas.
About Baha Mar
Baha Mar is set on 3,000 feet of white sandy beach just 10 minutes from Nassau's fully renovated and expanded international airport. It will feature an elite collection of hotel brands with gaming, entertainment, private residences, shopping and natural attractions that reflect an authentic Bahamian experience. The resort’s Grand Opening celebration is planned for Spring 2015. The Baha Mar Casino & Hotel includes a 1,000-room hotel and a 100,000-square-foot Las Vegas-style casino. Baha Mar also will include a 700-room Grand Hyatt, a 300-room SLS LUX, and a 200-room Rosewood. Amenities will include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course; 200,000 square feet of flexible convention facilities, including a 2,000-seat entertainment venue; an ESPA spa; art galleries featuring Bahamian art; more than 40 restaurants, bars and clubs; global luxury designer and local artisan boutiques; and 20 acres of exquisitely landscaped beach and pool experiences, including a beachfront sanctuary with native Bahamian flora and fauna. In addition, upon completion of renovations, the all-inclusive Meliá Nassau Beach will become part of Baha Mar. For more information please visit www.bahamar.com.
