KNOW YOUR MARINE PROTECTED AREA!

Cat Island cradles five pristine marine protected areas (MPAs)

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 Bay, Joe Sound, Armbrister Creeks MPA

ORANGE CREEK MPA

“Fernandez Bay” MPA encompasses Fernandez Bay, Joe Sound and Armbrister mangrove creek systems, 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/.

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 which is 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 the co-management of these resources for restoration, conservation and contribution to economic livelihoods. Co-management would cover raising public awareness, assessing environmental threats, zoning based on fragility and monitoring for the shores, mangrove creeks and waters that these areas encompass.

EMPOWER: Small Solar Solutions for Big Problems

Cat Island United equipped the community with low cost solutions for supplemental energy:

Small solar systems for residents without electricity
Solar powered pumps driving drip irrigation systems
Solar powered thermal hot water systems
One room solar for hurricane disaster recovery

SOLAR TUTORIAL FARMS—Powered by Nature and Youth

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—building, plant, weeding, growing and selling.

Energy efficient: use the sun to power the pumps.
Water efficient: collect and store rainwater during the rainy season and deliver H2O through drip irrigation
Healthy: fresh vegetables and eggs
Security: can always grow your own food
Love: for farming and new technology