August 14th, 2024 – Abaco, Bahamas

The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and local conservation partners are calling on the Bahamian Government to enforce the immediate removal of two vessels that have been grounded on a coral reef in the Fowl Cays National Park in Abaco since March. 

These vessels—a tugboat and a barge—have been stranded in the marine protected area since March 27th, 2024, when they initially ran aground after encountering inclement weather and rough seas. Multiple unsuccessful salvage attempts have been made to remove the vessels, and their continued presence poses a critical threat to the nearby coral reefs and the health of the park’s marine ecosystem.

BNT Park Wardens on Abaco have been working with local communities to closely monitor the situation and any changes in the vessels’ positions, as well as to ensure no unauthorized attempts to tamper with them.

“Fowl Cays National Park is a sanctuary for some of the most biologically diverse and fragile marine habitats in The Bahamas, and these grounded vessels have remained a persistent hazard to the coral reefs in the area,” said David Knowles, BNT Chief Park Warden on Abaco. 

During a recent site visit, BNT staff observed the deteriorating condition of the vessels and the surrounding area. This includes damage to corals, scattered debris from the vessels, and loss of sand that was being transported on the barge. During the site visit, BNT staff documented rope from the vessels entangled around critically endangered Elkhorn Corals. Additionally, the tugboat was observed to be more than 75% submerged and is susceptible to rolling, threatening extensive damage to the marine environment should it be moved by a storm or severe weather. This risk can occur at any point in time, considering that The Bahamas is currently in an active hurricane season.

Photos of grounded vessels, coral damage, and surrounding marine environment captured in August 2024.

“Through our communications with parties involved, we understand previous salvage efforts have been unsuccessful due to unfavorable weather conditions and lack of adequate equipment,” said Knowles. “However, too much time has passed, and more urgency and action from government authorities and the owners of the vessels is needed to prevent the situation from becoming worse.” 

The BNT believes there is more reef damage than what could be readily observed from our preliminary investigations. A more comprehensive assessment is needed to determine the full extent of the damage to the environment. 

“The continued presence of these vessels and debris has severely hampered our capacity to conduct a full damage assessment. Every day that these vessels are on the reef, there is another day of damage,” said Denise Mizell, Abaco Program Manager for the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS). If the ropes and debris present around the site can be removed as quickly as possible, it would prevent further damage to the corals currently being impacted. It also needs to be ensured through careful planning and monitoring that further damage does not occur during salvage operations.”

Olivia Patterson-Maura, Executive Director of Friends of the Environment, added, “Fowl Cays National Park is an important part of Abaco’s marine protected area network, contributing to sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, and cultural activities. Community members have voiced concerns about the impacts on their livelihoods and environmental health since the vessels grounded. Almost five months later, and in the height of hurricane season, we implore the government to open lines of communication with local stakeholders and facilitate swift removal of the vessels while mitigating any further damage.”

An aerial photo taken at a high altitude shows the extensiveness of the coral reef surrounding the vessels; this reef is at risk of additional damage if the vessels are moved by storms or severe weather. 

The BNT and its partners urge the government to make the 3 parties responsible prioritize the removal of these vessels and ensure an immediate coordinated salvage operation proceeds. Further delays will only result in more extensive environmental damage, threatening the integrity of one of The Bahamas’ pristine and valuable marine protected areas. Fowl Cays National Park covers a biologically rich marine area consisting of healthy coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy bottom habitats. We cannot further jeopardize this highly sensitive marine protected area by allowing these dangerous circumstances to persist. 

“We are fully committed to continuing liaising with the government, the vessel owners, and our conservation partners to resolve this situation. We are hoping to see the responsible parties not only remove these vessels without further delay, but also face the full weight of penalties under Bahamian law,” stated Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, BNT Executive Director. “After the vessels are removed, we hope to see the parties responsible be held accountable for the damage they’ve caused to a national asset. The fines should reflect the severity of the reef damage and cover the costs of monitoring and restoration efforts that follow.”

Once the vessels are safely removed, the BNT and its partners are prepared to conduct a thorough damage assessment and lead any necessary restoration efforts. However, this will only be possible if swift action is taken to eliminate the ongoing threat posed by these grounded vessels.