Department of Sustainable Development

Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, Bahamas

Organization of American States

Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)

ReefFix: An ICZM Coral Reef Restoration, Watershed Management and Capacity Building Demonstration Project for the Caribbean

Moriah Harbour Cay National Park in Exuma, Bahamas, April 27-29, 2009

Coastal and marine ecosystems provide vitally important goods and services to the Bahamas economy. As these resources become increasingly threatened through, for example, yachts throwing anchors on reefs, overfishing, increased sediment and nutrients deposition in coastal waters, and climate change pressures, it is critical to recognize the value they provide, and to incorporate them into decision-making.

During the Moriah Harbour Cay National Park in Exuma Workshop, as noted in the recommendations of the group, it is in the long-term economic interest of the Bahamas to:

Reinvigorate the participatory interest of local communities to advise BNT, BEST, Fisheries, Tourism, and others agencies and NGOs and build capacity for monitoring the state and use of coastal resources.
Gather fisheries data and revise fishing regulations as necessary and invest greater resources in enforcement.
Eliminate catching of sea turtles and increase training to minimize damage to them in other fishing techniques
Increase overall investment in MPAs through establishing moorings in MPAs and all harbors – and charging a mooring fee and increased monthly fees for yachts.
Enforce land-use and development regulations in the coastal zone by not allowing any tampering with natural drainage ways, mangrove and freshwater herbaceous swamps.
Conduct and thoroughly evaluate Environmental Impact Assessments and subsequent compliance plans for development in sensitive coastal areas, such as the cayes.
Incorporate sewage and solid waste disposal in Georgetown and Victoria Harbor.
In planning a long-term tourism strategy, the government should weigh revenues from cruise tourism against potential economic losses from environmental impacts. Tourism carrying capacity studies are also needed.
Continue economic analysis of environmental goods and services benefits from the coastal zone and dissemination of the results.
Participants requested that the three methodologies to value benefits derived from marine resources be catered to the Bahamas circumstances (functional where gaps in data exist) and also applicable to other areas in the Bahamas.

Moriah Harbour Cay National Park in Exuma Workshop - Presentations situated between Little & Great Exuma Palm Bay Beach Hotel April 27-29, 2009
Agenda		National Lionfish Response Plan - LaKeshia Anderson, Assistant Fisheries Officer, Department of Marine Resources
Caribbean Challenges Supporting Protected Areas - Deon Stewart - BEST		National Lionfish Response Plan (VIDEO) - LaKeshia Anderson, Assistant Fisheries Officer, Department of Marine Resources
Organization of American States - Richard Huber		The Nature Conservancy and Marine Conservation in The Bahamas - Ancilleno Davis - TNC
The Vision Continues - Janeen Bullard, Parks Planner and Community Liaison Officer, Bahamas National Trust		Economic Valuation of Moriah Harbour Cay, Exuma, Bahamas - Olethea Gardiner
Marine / Coastal Initiatives -Janel Campbell - Ministry of Tourism		Economic Valuation of Moriah Harbour Cay, Exuma, Bahamas (MAP) - Olethea Gardiner