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About the Project
The Carlisle Bay Pilot
Project has been designed to address current problems in
the Bay: environmental degradation and pollution,
unregulated and unsupervised turtle feeding,
susceptibility of coral reefs to storm surges and
hurricanes, limited resources and equipment by Coast
Guard and Marine Police to formally enforce existing
marine regulations applicable to the nearshore,
unawareness of stakeholders of how their behaviour
impacts negatively on the sustainability of the Bay due
to lack of interpretive facilities and programmes to
educate users on environmental and social sensitivities
and environmental risks. In addition, the outstanding
social problems highlighted by the major businesses in
the Bay when the Project document was circulated in
draft were litter, vandalism, lack of user-designated
areas, user conflicts and the lack of beach facilities. |
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The project involves the founding, training and
operation of a team of Educational Environment Stewards
(EES). These stewards are to collect marine data for
scientific analysis particularly as it relates to solid
waste and the marine environment. They will also provide
information to all the many Carlisle Bay stakeholders on
how to save the coastline, beaches, and marine life, and
on safety features in the use of the Bay.
Because Carlisle Bay is popular and heavily used by both
locals and tourists, it has been chosen for the Pilot.
Shell West in Barbados has been very generous in making
a sizeable financial donation to the Project which has
enabled the Barbados Marine Trust to commence this very
important Marine Environmental Programme. |
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Current Problems and
Issues in Carlisle Bay |
Social
- litter
- vandalism
- no user
designated areas
- conflict
- traditions
- public
beach facilities
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The presence of litter on the
beach (e.g., glass, plastic) and associated
threats to humans and marine life (e.g.,
consumption of plastic bags by sea turtles).
Misuse and abuse of mooring facilities
placed away from the reefs to prevent
damage. |
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The lack of designated areas
for: jet-ski operators, boat operators,
commercial cruisers, and swimming areas, and
associated risks to human safety |
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Conflict among commercial
users, recreational users, fishers and other
users resulting from the sharing of limited
resources |
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Negative impacts on
traditional fishing activities – virtually
no reef fish along the shoreline |
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Limited facilities (e.g.,
changing rooms, toilets) for public beach
users, especially in the Carlisle Bay and
Brown’s Beach areas |
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Environmental
- pollution
- degradation
- dive trails
- turtle feeding
- natural disasters
- restoration
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Land based sources of
pollution affecting water quality and marine
life (e.g., run-off from street drains,
seepage from suck wells) |
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Degraded reef
habitats as a result of physical damage
(e.g., anchors, snorkellers, divers),
land-based contaminants, and marine
discharges from boats
Lack of
maintenance of trails - artifacts are
covered
Unregulated,
unsupervised turtle feeding |
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Susceptibility
of reefs to storm surges and hurricanes
Installing
reef balls in the Bay to encourage the
return of marine life and to fit in with
existing trail |
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Regulations
- limited resources
for enforcement
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Limited resources and
equipment by Coast Guard and Marine Police
to formally enforce existing marine
regulations applicable to the nearshore. |
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Education
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Stakeholders are unaware of
how their behaviour impacts negatively on
the sustainability of the Bay. Lack of
interpretive facilities, programs or
materials to educate users on environmental
and social sensitivities and environmental
risks. |
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Education
This Pilot project addresses
these issues through a three-fold education programme:
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Education Environment
Stewards (EESs)
The daily presence of
Education Environment Stewards on the Beach and in the
water on the nearshore area interacting with the
watercraft operators and beach users pointing out sound
environmental practices and valuable marine resources
when opportunities arise, and identifying infractions or
activities harmful to the marine environment.
Carlisle Bay has been
divided informally into 6 Zones since this beach (which
includes Brownes Beach) is almost one mile long. See
below.
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Zone # |
From |
To |
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1 |
The Coast Guard |
Bay Shore |
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2 |
Bay Shore |
Underwater Barbados |
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3 |
Underwater Barbados |
The Coastal Zome Management Unit |
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4 |
The Coastal Zone Management Unit |
The Police Boys'& Girls'Club |
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5 |
The Police Boys'& Girls'Club |
The Grand Barbados Hotel Jetty |
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6 |
The Grand Barbados Hotel Jetty |
The Hilton Hotel Jetty |
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Code of Conduct.
Highlighting the best environmental practices in the
Bay. This will be achieved through an Accreditation
Scheme that promotes good environmental business
practices. The public will be able to differentiate
between those accredited operators who employ
practices that permit the sustainability of the
ecosystems in the Bay and ply their trade within the
law and the remainder. This scheme will monitor
accredited members and maintain a credible register
through a merit and demerit scheme.
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Public Awareness
Campaign
There will be a media
campaign focusing on the Bay during the Project. A
public education programme will promote
environmentally friendly practices by:
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Highlighting the
ill effects of land based pollution on the
Marine Environment
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Promoting
sustainable use of Marine Resources through
best practices.
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Urging
environmental stewardship among Barbadians.
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What changes can be
expected when the Project is implemented?
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A daily uniformed
presence on the beach.
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More respect for the
laws governing the use of the marine
environment.
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Less conflict among
user groups.
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Sizeable reduction
of litter and land based pollution in the marine
environment.
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Increased revenue
for businesses in Carlisle Bay.
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Environmental
stewardship among the general population.
For more information on this project,
please contact us.
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