Cat Island cradles five pristine marine protected areas (MPAs) covering 258,000 acres
Encompasses the northern tip of Cat Island, including Port Royal, Flamingo Point, Goat Cay and Little San Salvador. The largest of the MPAs at 160,000 acres, it encompasses mangrove creeks, Green Sea turtles, manta rays, coral reefs, sharks, spawning aggregations and pelagic fish.
Alligator Creek/Bennetts Creek
A pristine area of 4,000 acres with plentiful Green Sea Turtles, conch, bonefish, rays, sharks, herons, osprey nests and fish nurseries amongst the mangroves.
Fernandez Bay/Joe Sound/ Armbrister Creeks
Orange Creek/Port Royal/San Salvador
“Fernandez Bay” tri-creek mangroves at 24,000 acres encompasses Joe Sound and Armbrister creek systems, Home to green turtles, bonefish, permit, tarpon, triggerfish, snappers, jacks and extensive fish nurseries.
Hawk’s Nest & Cutlass Creeks encompasses extensive flats and mangrove creek systems with bonefish, turtles, rays, sharks
Columbus Point
“Columbus Point” encompasses coral reefs, abundant marine life and renowned Oceanic White-tip shark populations.
Moving from “paper parks” to protected areas…a work in progress on Cat Island
The Bahamas Government committed to protecting 20% of its shoreline through a system of Marine Parks and MPAs, protection well advanced on many Family Islands. Cat Island United is currently working with the Government’s Department of Marine Resources to set up a pilot program for co-management of these resources for restoration, conservation and contribution to economic livelihoods.