Atlantis, Paradise Island is on a mission to help replenish the world’s green sea turtle population. Approximately 40 2-year-old green sea turtles were recently released in waters around New Providence by Atlantis' Marine Aquarium Operations team and the Department of Marine Resources. The effort is a continuation of a breed and release programme initiated at Atlantis, Paradise Island to help ensure the longevity of the now endangered species of turtle.

“It was a successful release effort. They swam right into the water, nice and peacefully,” says Ross Martin, Senior Aquarist at the mega-resort property. “By doing this we hope to help increase and sustain the population of the green sea turtles in the wild,” he explains, adding “the turtles, which are more vulnerable and susceptible to predators as hatchlings, now – through this latest exercise – have a greater chance at survival and Atlantis is proud to be a part of such a meaningful opportunity to help ensure that these wonderful animals do not become extinct.”

Michael T. Braynen, Director at the Department of Marine Resources gives kudos to the resort’s efforts.

“The Department of Marine Resources is pleased to recognize the ongoing work of Atlantis with regard to conservation of marine turtles in The Bahamas. This goes beyond the immediately obvious public displays at the hotel and extends also to their willingness to assist, rescue and rehabilitate turtles injured in the wild. Through careful management of the habitats provided for the turtles on display at Atlantis, there have been ongoing reproductive successes. The release into the natural environment of these baby turtles hatched from eggs laid at Atlantis is indeed a cause for celebration,” he says.

There are seven species of sea turtles – all of which are classified as endangered. To help ensure the survival of these animals that are vital to the health of our marine ecosystems, The Bahamas Government enacted new legislation in 2009 that protects all species of sea turtles.

By Monalisa Wright

Louis Bacon. (Photo Credit: Yann Dandois)

The Bahamas National Trust today announced that it has received a third $50,000 grant from The Moore Bahamas Foundation, the local affiliate of Louis Bacon’s Moore Charitable Foundation, to support its work to protect the rapidly declining population of the iconic Queen Conch.

This is the third year that funding from The Moore Bahamas Foundation is supporting the partnership between Bahamas National Trust, the Government of The Bahamas, corporate Bahamas and the conservation community which has formed the Conchservation Campaign (pronounced Conch-servation). This year’s donation brings the total of The Moore Bahamas Foundation grants to $150,000 in the campaign to protect the conch population from depletion.

The Conchservation Campaign was formed in response to the startling results of research showing that traditional Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas) fishing grounds in The Bahamas were showing signs of possible collapse, according to BNT Executive Director Eric Carey.

“It is important to remember that we still have an opportunity to maintain viable conch fishery but we must develop a strategy that we can realistically police and we must conduct an education program to demonstrate why it is so critical that we do not deplete our conch population. We need to learn from Florida and Bermuda where the conch fisheries collapsed in the 1970’s and despite full closure to fishing, have yet to recover,” said Carey. “A parallel demise for the Bahamian Queen Conch fishery would devastate the nation ecologically, economically, and culturally.”

The Conchservation Campaign aims to prevent this outcome for the Bahamian fishery through research, education, and multi stakeholder collaboration.

The Queen Conch, commonly used to make conch salad and other dishes, plays a major role in the marine food web and loss of the Conch fishery would be detrimental to endangered and vulnerable species like sharks, turtles, and spotted eagle rays that feed on conch, as well as hermit crabs, damselfishes and other opportunists that use the shell of dead conchs as a habitat. In addition, the loss of the fishery would hugely impact the economy and the livelihood of countless Bahamians who rely on harvesting and sale of conch as an important source of income. Lastly, the Queen conch is an essential cultural symbol uniting all islands of The Bahamas and the high demand by visitors greatly benefits the countries tourism economy.

Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director.“The Moore Bahamas Foundation has graciously supported Conchservation from its inception,” said Carey, “because they understand and appreciate the significance of the Queen Conch to The Bahamas. This year’s renewed support will allow the Bahamas National Trust to continue its campaign through 2016. The Moore Bahamas Foundation provides support through Bahamas National Trust Fund Inc., a U.S. 501c3 public charity.

“The Moore Bahamas Foundation responded immediately and effectively to the Conchservation Campaign with a pledge of $150,000 over three years. This support has underpinned the campaign, providing important funding to get the campaign off and running. When we are successful in our efforts to save this iconic species from extinction, The Moore Bahamas Foundation will deserve significant credit for its visionary investment in the Conchservation campaign,” said Carey.

"We are proud to partner with Bahamas National Trust as they take key next steps in their campaign to preserve the iconic Queen Conch," said Louis Bacon, Founder and Chairman, The Moore Charitable Foundation. "Our multifaceted partnership brings to light the wide range of communities impacted by the health of this seminal species and the importance of their fight to protect it."

To learn more about what’s next for Conchservation follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Conchservation. You can also request additional information about Conchservation or the BNT and its programmes by emailing science@bnt.bs.

Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director

Farmer Levarity Deveaux poses alongside a boar pig at his farm on Marshall Road.

Farmer Levarity Deveaux will be honoured as a pioneer of farming in The Bahamas during the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources Agribusiness Expo 2016 to be held at the Expo site on Gladstone Road, March 9-13, 2016 under the theme “Progressing Towards Food Security: Our Food, Our Future, Our Bahamas.”

Mr. Deveaux, who has been farming for 50-plus years, cultivates vegetables such as cabbage, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet pepper, broccoli, okra and every now and again sweet corn. He also raises pigs, goats and sheep on his 15-acre farm on Marshall Road. He has loyal clients who include Super Value, Budget, Bahamas Food Services, as well as walk-in customers.

Mr. Deveaux also has 100 of his sheep on loan to the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) in Andros.

A herd of goats and sheep leave their pen and head to the spot for lunch.

He is outspoken and does not back down from a challenge.

“I grew four acres of onions and that is the largest that has ever been grown on New Providence,” Mr. Deveaux said. “I had to do that because that was a challenge from Arnold Forbes when he was the Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation.

“Mr. Forbes was talking about Senator (Joseph) Curry who was rewarded for growing a half-acre of onions in Exuma; so I grew four acres to show him that they can be grown in New Providence.”

Mr. Deveaux explained that his love for farming started from childhood: “We used to come to Nassau in the summer when school was closed, and when we were going back for school[‘s] opening in September, we had cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetable seeds to start in Staniard Creek, Andros.”

Farmer Levarity Deveaux shows off the cabbage he has cultivated.

He added, “Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer, a motor mechanic, or farmer; I stuck with the farming. I worked in Customs, I worked at Bahamasair Cargo but was farming all of the time, so no matter what else I did, I was always farming.”

However, this does not mean that farming has been an easy path for him. Therefore, he wants to assist up-and-coming farmers, and also wishes that the Government would extend more help to them.

“To be able to farm in The Bahamas, the Government needs to give land to people and trust them to start doing something, and have people to assist and correct them along the way.”

Mr. Deveaux thanked the Government for planning to honour him during the Expo, but he also had some additional advice. “I appreciate the Government for honouring me and I hope that they do not wait such a long time for the young farmers who are coming up; encourage them periodically; do not wait 50 years.”

By Llonella Gilbert - Bahamas Information Services

Piglet siblings take a nap during the afternoon at the farm.

Farmer Levarity Deveaux poses alongside his prized Boer goat, which is a breed of goat that was developed in South Africa in the early 1900s for meat production. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

GEORGETOWN
FREE SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC
February 26-28th

2 Clinic Locations, 3 Vets, FREE Surgery!!!
1~Bahamas Humane Society Building Bahama Sound 18 2~Exuma Animal Hospital (Across from Palm Bay)
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