The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation yesterday called for the protection of coral reefs in and around western New Providence after divers attempting to visit the foundation’s sculpture garden said they came out of the water covered in oil.

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, BREEF’s executive director, said the organisation remains “seriously concerned” about claims made by divers, both local and international, that oil had been leaking into waters off Clifton Heritage Park near the group’s Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden.

Mrs McKinney-Lambert insisted that the impact the oil could have on living coral reefs, fish and other marine organisms should make the issue one that those in charge are eager to resolve.

“The waters in southwest New Providence are a major hotspot for dive tourism, generating millions of dollars for the Bahamas each year. This is also an area used regularly by beach-goers, boaters and fishermen.

“The BREEF sculpture garden is inspiring people from around the world to visit the Bahamas and we want them to experience the wondrous beauty of the Bahamian ocean, rather than an oil spill.

“The leaking oil is a major threat to our environment and our people and we are eagerly looking forward to the promised clean up and the implementation of necessary measures to prevent further leaks into the ocean,” she added.

In recent weeks, divers who visited the sculpture have informed The Tribune that when they returned to shore, their wet suits, gear and skin were covered in oil.

Those divers indicated that the oil, although not a constant problem, is an issue that requires immediate attention.

In January, the government allocated $10m towards the removal of oil from waters off Clifton Pier in response to complaints that significant amounts of oil washed ashore on nearby Adelaide Beach.

Mrs McKinney-Lambert said that since the establishment of the sculpture garden, there has been increased attention on the area from local media and international outlets in North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

She said that the leaking of oil into waters of southwestern New Providence is a major threat to the environment and people of the Bahamas.

BREEF has been advocating for the conservation of marine environments, the preservation of coral reef ecosystems and the education of Bahamians about the importance of protecting the country’s marine resources for the past 20 years.

According to the foundation, the sculpture garden diverts snorkelers and divers away from natural reefs, which allows the natural rejuvenation for those organisms. It also provides an outdoor classroom for environmental education and a public study site for participation in scientific research.

BREEF has said that the garden, labelled a “fusion of art, education and marine conservation”, offers habitats for fish, coral and other marine organisms.

The sculpture is considered the brainchild of award-winning Bahamian artist Willicey Tynes.

Mr Tynes stated in an October 2014 report that he approached Lady Nuttall, Sir Nicholas’ widow, with the concept after viewing the world’s first underwater sculpture park created by internationally acclaimed sculptor, Jason DeCaires Taylor.

Last year, BREEF received $500,000 in seed funding from the United Nations Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme for the first phase of the sculpture garden.