Atlantis, Paradise Island is serious about the sustainability of the country’s natural resources, and as such is continuing to play a ‘big brother’ role in achieving this goal. The resort’s conservation efforts have been in sync with those of environmental agencies throughout the country like the Bahamas National Trust, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy, the Department of Marine Resources, and Atlantis’ own conservation arm – the Atlantis Blue Project. One initiative being undertaken involves the coral reefs found in Bahamian waters.
Working with coral reef expert Dr. Craig Dalgren, Atlantis aquarium team members assigned to the project are majorly focused on growing corals to help rehabilitate damaged coral reefs. To help them achieve this goal, three coral reef nurseries have been erected at various locations on the resort’s property.
“We’ve been working with Dr. Dalgren for the last few years on this project,” explains Water Features Director Dave Wert. “We assist Dr. Dahlgren with coral fragment collections and then setting up the coral nurseries in areas of the property where we will get optimal coral growth.”
According to Wert, pieces of coral are removed from damaged coral reefs and are placed on lines or tree structures made from pvc where they are monitored and cared for. Once the corals are deemed healthy and large enough, they are then placed back on the coral reefs.
“Our team also maintains the nurseries by keeping the lines and tree structures clean by removing any algae and trash that may build up. We may also have to repair any lines that may break,” says Wert. “We monitor the nurseries daily but maintenance work is pretty much done once a week,” he adds.
Corals are marine invertebrates related to the jellyfish but with a hard skeleton. The animal lives within the hard skeleton. Their sustainability is vital to the marine ecosystem as they provide food and shelter for a plethora of other marine life. Coral reefs also help to preserve the country’s beaches and shorelines because they act as a sort of barrier against storms and big waves that can cause erosion.
Wert says the nursery project, which is ongoing at Atlantis, also presents an opportunity to educate. “We use the nurseries as an educational tool to help inform students, particularly those who are studying marine biology, about the importance of coral reefs in The Bahamas. Many of them are really keen to see what we’re doing and are enthusiastic about getting a little hands on experience with these very special animals.”
The three coral reef nurseries at Atlantis, Paradise Island are among scores of others bring monitored by Dr. Dalgren throughout New Providence and the rest of The Bahamas. Prior to the establishment of the nurseries, Atlantis representatives worked with Dalgren on surveys related to the health assessments of coral reefs throughout The Bahamas.
