BREEF 10
Earlier this summer, The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, held the 10th Marine Conservation Teacher Training Workshop from July 13-20, at the Gerace Research Center on San Salvador. The objective of the workshop was to provide Bahamian educators with hands-on experiences in the marine environment that they could subsequently share with their students. Ultimately the goal of the Marine Conservation Teacher Training Workshop is to promote an appreciation for our ocean, participants come to realize that our oceans harbour extraordinary life, and benefit our social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being in many ways. They leave the workshop eager to expose our nation’s children to the intricacies of our marine environment that makes up more than 90% of our nation.
To date over 230 Bahamian educators have participated in one of our training workshops. Participating teachers are provided with a unique opportunity to learn about the Bahamian marine environment and how we can best protect it. Teachers were also given the opportunity to conduct scientific investigations and review and develop hands-on interactive activities on marine ecosystems that they can take back to their schools.
The workshop was funded by members and sponsors of BREEF, as well as by a grants from the Lyford Cay Foundation. the US Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Disney Wildlife Foundation. Local businesses including The Royal Bank of Canada, The Nature Conservancy, Scotiabank, The Royal Society of St. George, SWIFT Swimming, The Corona Society, Klonaris & Co., Colina Imperial Insurance and Nassau Motor Co. assisted with sponsorships. In addition, a number of private individuals including 2007 BREEF Workshop particpant Nicola Bowe, Bobbie Hallig, Eugenie, Lady Nuttall, Klaus Hallig and Gavin McKinney have generously sponsored individual teachers.
The Bahamas is still considered to have some of the healthiest marine ecosystems in the wider Caribbean. Important fisheries resources such the conch, Nassau grouper and crawfish that we take for granted here, are commercially extinct in neighboring territories. Reports that these are on the decline have prompted the need to put safeguards such as closed seasons, size limits and marine reserves in place. It is through education and research that we will be able to make sound decisions that will care for our environment and thus our natural heritage.