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STATUS REPORT FOR JULY 2007
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Introduction
One of the most important
components of the Carlisle Bay Pilot Project / Environmental
Education Stewards is to monitor the drains along the Carlisle
Bay stretch of coastline since water quality is the most
important aspect in the preservation of marine life.
At Carlisle Bay, as well as the
other beaches of the island, waste water and sewage making its
way into the ocean via outfalls has become a serious issue.
Most of these outfalls are connected to inland gullies, that
also bring pesticides, and toxic waste to the marine
environment.
At Carlisle Bay, the Coastal Zone
Management Unit (CZMU) performs water quality monitoring at the
sea, but so far, regular monitoring of the outfalls is not being
performed. One of the most important components of the Carlisle
Bay Pilot Project / Environmental Education Stewards is to
monitor the drains along that particular stretch of coastline.
On July 2007, the Barbados Marine
Trust started working in coordination with the Drainage Unit of
the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to perform drain
monitoring using their approaches. This helps the project and
the BMT to enhance its scientific capabilities and technical
skills and collect data that will help to establish better
management of the area.
Drain Monitoring
The baseline monitoring of the
drains of Carlisle Bay was performed to start the Drain
Monitoring Programme in coordination with the Drainage Unit.
Donations
BAIRD Engineering of Ottawa
Canada, made a donation of a rain gauge and an electronic data
level logger which will be installed and used in Carlisle Bay by
the Barbados Drainage Unit as part of the Drain Monitoring
Programme.
Earth Race made a generous cash
donation to the Barbados Marine Trust to enable it to carry on
its work to protect preserve and enhance the marine areas of
this island nation which must rely on its marine resources.
EES Public
Relationships
The Government
Information Service (GIS), arrived with their film crew to film
the Carlisle Bay Stewards on:
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Sea patrol in
their Zodiac, checking the buoys in the bay and monitoring
other marine activities.
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Beach patrol,
collecting data on beach users and drain monitoring.
Signage
The BMT is
currently awaiting approval from the Tourism Development
Corporation for funding that will enable the placement of
approximately 9 signs that inform the general public about the
pilot project as well as indicate methods of use of the marine
environment including existing regulations. The signage will
draw specific attention to the handling of litter, fines imposed
if anyone is caught littering and guidance on the general use of
the marine environment etc.
Stakeholders
The Stewards of the
Carlisle Bay Project Pilot Project have being visiting the
businesses and residences of key stakeholders along the Carlisle
Bay stretch to seek further funding and to explore how they can
play their part in achieving the goals of the project.
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