Life on the Bahamian Coral Reef Benefits of Reefs Reefs provide: Coral Reefs cover less than 1% of the sea floor, but contain 25% of all marine species. These species depend on each other for • a habitat for marine organisms • sand and beaches their survival. Some organisms that live on our reefs are: • a supply of seafood • recreation for locals and tourists • shoreline protection • opportunities for scientific research 1. Zooxanthellae 5. Sponge 9. Long-Spined Urchin 15. Butterflyfish 20. Green Moray Eel • employment through fishing and tourism • medicinal and commercial products 2. Phytoplankton / 6. Soft Coral 10. Queen Conch (corallivore) 21. Barracuda Microscopic Algae Seafan 11. Silversides/Pilchards 16. Grunts 22. Nurse Shark 3. Marine Algae / 7. Hard Coral 12. Parrotfish 17. Snappers 23. Caribbean Reef Shark tat Pro Coral Reef Conservation in bi te a c t Seaweed a. Elkhorn Coral 13. Queen Angelfish 18. Black Grouper 24. Hawksbill Turtle H i o E n Coral Reef Education – BREEF and other conservation partners raise awareness of d 4. Seagrass b. Brain Coral 14. Spiny Lobster/Crawfish 19. Nassau Grouper 25. Seastar u coral reefs through school programmes, field trips, public campaigns and teacher training c 8. Sea Cucumber (detritivore) at workshops. ion

Protection of Connected Habitats – Marine habitats are interlinked; many reef species need Producer Herbivore/Omnivore Carnivore several different habitats, including coral reefs, wetlands, seagrass beds, beaches, tidal flats and deep sea areas, to complete their life cycle. Protected areas, land use planning, proper waste disposal and removal of invasive species, help to protect these habitats.

Scientific Research – Scientists collect useful data to guide management efforts.

21 Coral reef surveys, coral propagation activities, conch, grouper and crawfish studies, 23 eme invasive species (lionfish) research and removals are being conducted in The Bahamas. 24 orc nt nf E 11 & Legislation to Protect Important Species – The harvest of coral, sea turtles

n

o and commercial shark fishing is prohibited in The Bahamas. Closed seasons,

i t

a size limits, gear restrictions, bag limits for sport-fishing and restricted l

s

i

13 g entry into the fishery are designed to prevent over exploitation of e

2 L marine resources.

d Areas S te Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – Marine Parks and Reserves protect c c i e e t critical marine habitats. National Parks are managed by The Bahamas n o t 6 r National Trust. Marine Reserves are managed by the Department of if P ic Re 7a Marine Resources. The Government of The Bahamas has committed search to expand the protected area network by protecting 20% of the Bahamas’ marine environment by 2020. 20

1 17

2

3 Grand 3 Bahama Abaco 4 MPAs that protect 12 15 7b Atlantic Ocean Coral Reefs (2012) Berry Bimini Islands Devil’s Backbone Reef Eleuthera 11 Abaco 1. Walker’s Cay National Park 5 2. No Name Cay Marine Reserve Andros 5 New 3. Fowl Cays National Park 16 Providence Cat Island 4. Pelican Cay Land and Sea Park 6 Andros Barrier 18 Reef San Salvador Tentacle Coral Reefs of Andros 9 The Bahamas Conception Island 5. North and South Marine Parks Mouth 7 Rum Cay 5 1 Stomach 8 19 Zooxanthellae 6. Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Crooked Island Mesenterial Long Island 7. Moriah Harbour Cay National Park Filaments 8. The Exuma (Jewfish Cay) Marine Reserve 22 14 9 25 8 Others 4 10 © 2012 The Nature Conservancy Limestone Skeleton Coral Reef Caribbean GIS (J. E. Knowles) Hogsty Reef 9. The Conception Island National Park Projection: Mercator Auxiliary Sphere Reference Ellipsoid: WGS 1984 10 Data Source: 10. Little National Park Ocean (ESRI) Great Inagua Island Coral Reef (MSEL, TNC) Photo credits: Catherine Booker 11. South Berry Islands Marine Reserve Ancilleno Davis Tiny colonial animals called polyps secrete a 0 25 50 100 km John Knowles Kemit-Amon Lewis limestone skeleton which builds the structure of Sandra Voegeli the reef. Microscopic algae called zooxanthellae A third of the Caribbean’s coral reefs are located in The Bahamas. Barrier reefs are generally found on the eastern live symbiotically inside the polyps’ tissues. (windward) side of islands. Fringing reefs are located near shore and patch reefs are found on the shallow banks.

Reefs provide us with food, jobs, recreation and storm protection. Let’s do our part to protect our precious Coral Reefs. www.breef.org