KNOW YOUR MARINE PROTECTED AREA!
Cat Island cradles five pristine marine eco-systems designated Marine Protected Areas. CIU is working to raise awareness and community support for a management framework to protect the eco-systems while supporting the economy through sustainable fishing practices and eco tourism initiatives.
Encompasses the northern tip of Cat Island, including Port Royal, and Flamingo Point and extends to Little San Salvador. The largest of the MPAs, it encompasses mangrove creek systems, coral reefs, spawning aggregations and open sea fishing.
ALLIGATOR CREEK MPA
Alligator Creek and Bennett’s Creek are a tidal estuary and home to juvenile green turtle populations, bonefish, mangroves, young crayfish, sharks and fish nurseries.
FERNANDEZ CREEK MPA
ORANGE CREEK MPA
“Fernandez Bay” MPA encompasses Fernandez Bay, Joe Sound and Armbrister mangrove creek systems and =are home to 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 MPA
“Columbus Point” encompasses coral reefs, abundant marine life and renowned white-tip shark populations
EMPOWER: Small Solar Solutions for Big Problems
Cat Island United equipped the community with low cost solutions for critical energy needs on an island with a limited grid.
Small solar systems for residents without electricity
Solar powered pumps driving drip irrigation systems for water management
Solar powered thermal hot water systems to reduce carbon emissions
One room solar for hurricane disaster recovery
High School “Smart Farms”—Powered by Nature
With the help of the UNDP Global Environment Fund (GEF) Small Grants Program, CIU worked with students and teachers to build the Sunshine Tutorial Farms. These support the agriculture, science, technology and business academic programs. Students are involved from front to back—the building of the farms and installation of equipment to farmers markets.
Sustainable because they capture and store water in tanks for periods of drought.
Energy efficient because they use the sun to power the pumps.
Water efficient because they collect and store rainwater during the rainy season and deliver the water efficiently through drip irrigation directly to the roots.
Healthy because they provide the community with fresh vegetables and eggs.
YOUTH LOVE for farmingand growing own food!!
Hawks Nest and Cutlass Creek MPAS
Community Composting—Giving back to the soil
ALUMINUM CAN RECYCLING: The Virtuous Circle of the Life of a Soda Can
CIU has run eight collection depots since 2015 in partnership with the Cape Mail and Cans 4 Kids, Nassau. Cat Islanders take cans to drop off points; Cans are picked up in sugar bags and taken to Smith Bay; the Cape Mail generously carries them on their return trip from Smith By to Potter Cay; Cans 4 Kids collects them from Potter Cay and consolidates with aluminum cans from Nassau and the family islands to be sent to Miami for reprocessing. Cans 4 Kids pays a nominal fee, which covers the local cost of pick up and maintenance.
Cat Island drop off points (north to south): Orange Creek Grocery, Arthur’s Town Comprehensive School; Bennetts Harbor, Yardies’ Food and Gas; New Bight: New Bight Food Market; Old Bight: Favor’s Service Station; Port Howe: AJ’s One Stop Shop
