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PROTECTED MARINE AREAS
Folkestone Park and Marine Reserve
The Folkestone Park and Marine Reserve was established in 1981 by the Designation of Restricted Areas Order 1981, and the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) (Barbados Marine Reserve) Regulation 1981. The National Conservation Commission (NCC), the government agency responsible for the management of marine protected areas in Barbados, manages the Folkestone Park and Marine Reserve.
The Park and Reserve are located on the west coast of Barbados. The Reserve stretches a total distance of 2.2 km and extends a distance offshore of 950m at its widest point and 660m at its narrowest. The Reserve consists of four zones:
* Scientific Zone Designated for marine research:
No motor power craft access unless permitted for research or enforcement, and then speeds are limited to 5 knots.
* Northern and Southern Designated Water Sports Zones for fast speed watercraft use:
All motorised watercraft must operate at speeds less than 5 knots/no wake within 75m from shore, and speed boats can operate at higher speeds within 75 - 200m from shore. Jet skis must maintain speeds of less than 5 knots within 200m of shore and can operate at higher speeds beyond 200m from shore.
* Recreational Zone Designated for recreation, including swimming, snorkeling and fishing:
There are no restrictions on watercraft entry, however, speed restrictions apply.
In 1997, the Environmental Special Projects Unit (ESPU) implemented a project to upgrade the Folkestone Marine Reserve and to establish a Marine Park. This three (3) year project resulted in the development of a comprehensive draft management plan.
For further information on the Folkestone Park and Marine Reserve please visit www.nccbarbados.gov.bb.
CARLISLE BAY
Background
This area is located on the south western coast of Barbados and is a calm, sheltered area where a variety of recreational activities occur on a daily basis. The bay is popular for diving, the anchoring and sailing of yachts and, to a lesser extent, fishing.
The marine biodiversity in Carlisle Bay is extremely rich, with more than three hundred and fifty (350) species of tropical flora and fauna. Among these are organisms such as the frog fish (Antennarius multiocellatus), which is rare in Barbados, and the sea horse (Hippocampus erectus) which is rare worldwide. These, and other organisms, live on the scattered patch reefs and artificial reefs in the form of sunken ships which make up the primary ecosystems in the area. At present there are five (5) major wrecks in the bay: the Berwyn, the Fox, the C-Trec, the Bajan Queen and the Eillon, which attract more than forty (40) dive boats and glass bottom boats on a weekly basis.
The idea of protecting Carlisle Bay was brought to the Government by the Professional Association of Dive Operators (PADO) in 1993. The divers had observed a deterioration of the marine ecosystems in the area and attributed the decline to 'anchor damage, pollution from land-based sources and from heavy use of the area by visitors and locals'. Coupled with the uniqueness of the area, it seemed essential that the bay be protected in order to preserve and possibly rehabilitate the systems in the area. The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) firmly supported the suggestion that Carlisle Bay be designated as a protected area.
Some work has already been initiated to protect the reef ecosystems in Carlisle Bay. Initially, PADO, with technical assistance from CZMU, embarked on a programme to install permanent moorings in the bay. Funds for this exercise were obtained through a grant from the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Project. Atlantis Submarines Barbados Inc. and Harbour Master Cruises have also installed some permanent moorings to facilitate their own activities in the area.
Current Status
In 1997, the Environmental Special Projects Unit (ESPU) implemented a project to establish an area in Carlisle Bay as a Marine Park. This three (3) year project resulted in the development of a comprehensive draft management plan for protected marine areas.
The overall management objective devised for Carlisle Bay was as follows:
To manage the offshore facilities and marine biota as an underwater recreation, interpretation and education park, while promoting local interest and involvement in the marine environment through enhancement of recreational facilities and interpretive programmes along the foreshore.
A number of consultations were held with primary stakeholders with a view to achieving consensus on the desirability of establishing the marine park, and more importantly, to define the perimeter of the designated area. After some consultation with the users of the area (primarily coastal cruise operators and divers) it was agreed that the zone to be recommended for designation as a protected site should be established in an area of approximately 46,625 m2.
It was recommended that a Marine Management Area Agency be also established and that the authority at that time vested in NCC to establish and manage marine parks and reserves, be transferred to the CZMU in order to eliminate fragmentation of the legal responsibilities for marine management areas.
THE ROCKLEY BREAKWATER AREA
The Rockley Breakwater was constructed in January 1994 as one component of the Rockley Beach Pilot Project, which formed a part of the Feasibility Studies on Coastal Conservation (South and West Coasts). It is a 150 m long submerged crest breakwater, located in approximately 5m of water. The aim was to investigate the potential of this type of breakwater to protect and stabilise a beach which is exposed to south coast wave conditions.
Judged by any scientific criteria, the breakwater has fulfilled all expectations. Further, as an additional benefit, it is also functioning effectively as an artificial reef. The structure itself mimics a reef system, as its substrate provides a surface on which many benthic organisms, such as coral and algae, thrive. These organisms provide food for a variety of reef fish, which in turn provide food for the larger predators such as the Barracuda. On the breakwater there is already much of the flora and fauna associated with a live coral reef. This development has consequently attracted both fishermen and snorkelers.
The breakwater ecosystem represents a coral reef in its early stages of development. A potential high pot fishing pressure, resulting from the aggregation of fish at the site, would most likely deplete fish communities which would not have the opportunity to regenerate. A diminished fish population would result in overgrowth of algae, which smother the juvenile corals or prevent them from recruiting onto the substrate altogether. The ecosystem would therefore breakdown and the structure would cease to act as an artificial reef.
Fish on the Rockley Breakwater
In an attempt to protect this rather fragile ecosystem, a consensus decision was taken by a number of agencies that the area should be designated a protected area where only passive recreational activities such as snorkeling and diving would be allowed. This was agreed to by fishermen and divers at public meetings on March 12th and 15th, 1997.
The designation of this site would be to ensure its protection from spear fishing and pot fishing.
Glossary of Terms