Alannah Vellacott: Taking care of the Bahamian sea for the next generation

As Earth warms and weather patterns shift, humanity is experiencing the dire impacts of climate change. On low-lying islands across the Pacific sea level rise is more prevalent than ever before, as loss of land threatens the existence of entire cultures and communities. To raise awareness about these urgent issues, 13 young voyagers from the Polynesian Voyaging Society prepare to sail from Hawai‘i to California on the ancestral voyaging canoe Hikianalia. The sister canoe to the famed Hōkūleʻa, which circumnavigated the globe in 2016, Hikianalia is powered by wind and solar energy. The crew will go on to navigate a 23-day, 2,800-mile journey in the traditional way of their Polynesian ancestors — using only the currents beneath them and the stars above.

As a waitress at a local tourist resort on Cat Island, Antonese Anthon tells guests every day how to access a nearby beach that is one of the most beautiful in all The Bahamas. Yet, she has never been herself. This is not an uncommon scenario for many Bahamians — that a history of colonialism, servitude, and the transatlantic slave trade has created barriers to their most accessible resource, the ocean. However, through a process of remembering her inherent connection with the ocean, Antonese gains a vision of an alternative future — one that includes the opportunity to follow a brighter path forward, one that connects her to the global community through a shared love for the ocean. With the support of Young Marine Explorers, a Bahamian-led nonprofit working to ensure that all members of the community have the tools needed to protect the ocean, Antonese embarks on a transformational journey into her past and into the water. Donning mask, fins, and snorkel, she takes her first ever deep-sea dive and crosses a threshold toward hope.

For many Bahamians, the ocean is home. From these waters comes sustenance, opportunity, and identity. But this relationship is also complex and paradoxical. With a population of over 90 percent African descent, The Bahamas endures a colonial past of trauma and enslavement that can’t be overlooked if their future is to remain hopeful, especially amidst the rising threats of climate change, resource extraction, and ecological decline. The ocean then links these worlds—the past and present, suffering and restoration, exploitation and preservation—and offers a path forward. Only by working together equitably will these opportunities of the ocean be fully realized and protected. Only by uniting as bodies of water—as advocates, educators, and environmentalists—will past legacies be amended and amazing new potentials be achieved.