National

Environmentalist Sounds The Alarm Over Impact Of Moorings

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Environmentalists warn Bahamas mooring projects threaten marine life and call for transparency.

Published

4 months ago

August 13, 2025

Delvardo Emmanuel

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Moorings, the anchors used to secure vessels at sea, are often promoted as convenient docking solutions for boaters and cruise ships.

However, environmentalist Joe Darville warns that while they may benefit a small group, large-scale mooring projects could come at a serious cost to The Bahamas’ marine environment.

Joe Darville said, “These matters are not to be hidden. In some political backyard or back room, it has to be, uh, expeditiously and exponentially, uh, uh, liberated with the full knowledge of the people of The Bahamas. We are a sovereign nation.”

This isn’t the first time moorings have sparked controversy. Opposition Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright accused the Davis administration of being “enemies of transparency” when criticizing the now-aborted Bahamas Moorings lease deal.

In his budget debate contribution, Cartwright told the House of Assembly the administration was “not diligent” in leasing 4,000 acres of seabed in the Exuma Cays to a company with strong government connections.

Darville insists that decisions affecting the seabed, ocean use, or even debris landing from space must be made openly and with public consent. “It is a crying shame that we still have this particular development in our country, and have to find out things afterwards, after something happens or something goes wrong with whatever was decided, and then become aware that this has been discussed and decided upon by certain entities within the government,” he said.

“The Exuma Moorings controversy has reignited calls for greater transparency between central and local government. Environmentalists say decisions affecting the country’s natural resources should start with community input.”

Beyond political concerns, Darville warns that installing thousands of moorings could damage marine habitats and create hazards for local vessels. “If you’re gonna put down 2,000, 3,500 moorings within the territory where there are all a myriad of marine life, it is unconscionable that that would even be considered without the full approval of the country,” he added.