BNT Calls for Immediate Protection of Athol Island Amid Development Concerns

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) has noted with great concern recent media reports about developments taking place on Athol Island.

The BNT, along with many others, is eager for clarity regarding the future of this significant barrier island, which plays a crucial role in shielding northeastern New Providence from storm surges. The BNT does not support the development of Athol Island and has been advocating for its protection since 1982.

In April 2022, we publicly reiterated our recommendations for the protection and management of the island as a national park.

Athol Island and its surrounding waters are of high ecological and historical importance and hold economic potential for sustainable tourism ventures that do not require extensive on-island infrastructure. Although the island is only two miles long, it boasts outstanding representative biodiversity.

The island’s terrestrial habitats support numerous bird species and several reptile species, while its marine environment includes seagrass beds, patch reefs, and underwater habitats that support stony and soft corals, fish, and invertebrates.

In addition to its ecological importance, Athol Island has a rich history worthy of being preserved and shared. In 1892, the waters west of the island were designated as The Bahamas’ first marine protected area (MPA), known as the Sea Gardens.

This site became a popular tourist destination for glass-bottomed canoe tours. In 1871, a quarantine station was constructed on the island and remained in use until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1929. This station protected New Providence from ship crews and passengers who may have carried yellow fever, smallpox, and other infectious diseases. The ruins of the quarantine station and a former lighthouse remain and provide great opportunities for eco-friendly tourism.

In 2016, the BNT collaborated with The Nature Conservancy and The Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF) to implement the Bahamas Protected Project. This three-year initiative supported the Government of The Bahamas in meeting its national conservation goals and international commitment to protect 20% of marine and coastal environments by 2020 under the Caribbean Challenge Initiative.

In 2018, the Bahamas Protected partners submitted the “20 by 20 Marine Protection Plan,” formally recommending the protection of 43 areas, including Athol Island. Extensive public and stakeholder consultations supported these designations, with management arrangements recommended by neighbouring communities and resource users.

In 2021, the Government of The Bahamas released a gazette as a response to the Marine Protection Plan’s submission, which included the “Athol Island Marine protected Area,” encompassing 966 acres of crown land and surrounding waters.

To date, Athol Island and the other areas approved by government in 2014 and 2021 have not been assigned to any protected area management agency, with no legal entity responsible for their management. Perpall Tract in Western New Providence was also included in the approved protected areas listing; however, it is the location the government has proposed for the construction of a new hospital.

Amid these new concerns, the BNT stands by its recommendation that Athol Island warrants protection and active management as a national park. The island offers excellent recreational opportunities for the people of New Providence, who have been very vocal about losing public access to shoreline areas.

We envision a national park that is accessible to all, with trails, signage, and mooring buoys, allowing people to appreciate and learn about the island’s significance.

We implore the government to address these public concerns and consider Athol Island’s historical, ecological, and economic importance in the growing eco-tourism market.

The BNT supports the designation and management of Athol Island as a protected area and national park for the benefit of Bahamians and visitors alike. We look forward to collaborating with the government to achieve this goal for the Bahamian people.

To learn more about the role the BNT plays to manage terrestrial and marine national parks, protect Bahamian species, and inform environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs, and follow/subscribe to various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.