In March 2021, Only One is partnering with the Cat Island Conservation Institute to establish the first community conservation laboratory on Cat Island, The Bahamas.
Cat Island is a resplendent, 150-square mile island located in the central Bahamas, nearly 300 miles from the coast of Florida. Featuring glimmering powder-pink beaches, verdant hills, and The Bahamas’ highest point, known locally as Como Hill, Cat Island is also an idyllic gateway to enchanting turquoise waters that are home to eagle rays, green sea turtles, Caribbean reef sharks, queen conches, and many other marine species.
While Cat Island sounds like the perfect tropical paradise, not everyone is able to enjoy its many treasures.
Because of the history and legacy of colonialism and racism in the former British colony, many Bahamians have not had the opportunity to experience the ocean in the same way that foreign visitors do.
Today, this is starting to change thanks to the work of Bahamian organizations like the Cat Island Conservation Institute.
Establishing the first community conservation laboratory in The Bahamas will allow the Cat Island Conservation Institute to train a group of local community members — who won’t have had the opportunity or the means for a formal scuba diving or marine science education — to become certified PADI scuba divers. Through a new certification offered by the Cat Island Conservation Institute, the Bahamian Science Divers will be trained in Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment protocols, thus enabling them to conduct scientifically sound assessments of coral reef health that can be compared regionally.
The vision held by the Cat Island Conservation Institute is that Certified Community Marine Scientist will become a new trade and career path for Bahamians. Working alongside senior scientists, Certified Community Marine Scientists will protect and restore critical Bahamian ocean ecosystems.
The long-term benefits of this work include increased science literacy within the Cat Island community, improved coral health and marine biodiversity, and a flourishing local community invested in ocean ecosystems and the blue economy.
Project impact
5 members of the Cat Island community will be trained as Certified Community Marine Scientists
5 scuba kits will be provided, one for each Community Marine Scientist, along with course materials and full certification
Coral reefs where there is little biodiversity data will benefit from local capacity to map and monitor reef health, identify bleaching episodes, and fight the spread of coral disease
Community voices and needs will be elevated by the power of scientific data, informing key research questions for climate solutions
Why community marine science matters
Currently, Northern Cat Island is one of The Bahamas’ data-deficient regions. Once the Cat Island Conservation Institute’s team of Certified Community Marine Scientists is trained, they will have local capacity to co-design and conduct community-driven monitoring and research projects. Research priorities will be gaining an understanding of live coral coverage on the reefs, identifying if there are any bleaching episodes, and determining whether the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has spread to the Northern Cat Island reefs.
The reach of this program will be felt through the community.
Participants in the Certified Community Marine Scientist course will regularly share their experience with schools and other key community groups such as the church they may attend. Members of the community conservation laboratory will also identify vital research questions to direct the interdisciplinary work carried out by the team, thus clearly articulating and elevating voices and needs on the ground with the power of scientific data.
Cat Island Conservation Institute
The Cat Island Conservation Institute was born out of the recognized need to drive bold and ambitious climate action in The Bahamas by closing the gap between science, society, and policy — a critical step in creating climate-resilient communities.
The institute seeks to achieve this by reducing barriers to science, which requires meeting community members wherever they are, understanding that many Bahamians struggle with reading comprehension, cannot swim, and are unaware of how the changing climate will impact their lives.
The Cat Island Conservation Institute believes that a sustainable future for island communities is only possible through experiential education, equitable collaboration, and most importantly, love and appreciation for both the island people and all the ocean has to offer.
