Skip to content

Stories in The Bahamas

The Bahamas Conservation Priorities

We envision a more nature positive Bahamas—Join our mission.

Last updated March 18, 2024

and underwater photo of coral.
Exuma Cays, Bahamas: Shallow reef and limestone Islet in Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. © Jeff Yonover
an aerial view of the ocean and sandy banks in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas from Above An aerial view of the ocean and sandy banks of the Exuma Cays in The Bahamas © Jeff Yonover

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

mangrove roots stretching into the water.
Red and Black Mangroves Nature Based Solutions like Mangroves © Mark Godfrey/TNC

The Bahamas is a low-lying small island archipelago which is highly susceptible to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes and coral reef degradation. Climate adaptation and mitigation is crucial to addressing these threats. Although much of the country depends on buffer systems like corals and mangroves, many of these important ecosystems are in decline. By integrating nature-based solutions in our national approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions we can get one step closer to our conservation goal.

Addressing Climate Change

a photo of a mangove. the photo is half above water and half below water.
Mangrove in The Bahamas Mangrove in the shallow coastal salt flats of Warderick Wells Cay in the Bahamas Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Mangroves stabilize the shoreline, provide buffers from storm surges, trap debris and detritus brought in by tides, and provide feeding, breeding, and nursery grounds for a great variety of fish. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Mark Godfrey/The Nature Conservancy
an underwater image of mangroves.
Black Mangrove Bahamas Black mangroves, roots, and breathing tubes, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Jeff Yonover
Mangrove in The Bahamas Mangrove in the shallow coastal salt flats of Warderick Wells Cay in the Bahamas Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Mangroves stabilize the shoreline, provide buffers from storm surges, trap debris and detritus brought in by tides, and provide feeding, breeding, and nursery grounds for a great variety of fish. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Mark Godfrey/The Nature Conservancy
Black Mangrove Bahamas Black mangroves, roots, and breathing tubes, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Jeff Yonover

Fisheries Management

a red and white fish underwater.
Squirrelfish Up Close Squirrelfish photographed underwater in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Jeff Yonover

The island nation of The Bahamas is home to the Caribbean’s largest area of productive shallow water, which holds thriving coral reef ecosystems and unique species of fish, sharks, and marine mammals. These areas support one of the world’s major spiny lobster fisheries and the most important remaining fisheries for Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper in the entire Caribbean. The Queen Conch fishery alone employs more than 9,000 Bahamian fishers and contributes an estimated US$3-4 million annually to the country’s economy. However, these fisheries are facing significant declines as a result of overfishing, illegal fishing, habitat degradation, and a lack of data and capacity to effectively manage fishery resources—all of which are exacerbated by climate change. In the face of these challenges, The Nature Conservancy has been working across The Bahamas in key fisheries, such as Spiny Lobster and Queen Conch and directly collaborating with local fishing communities to enhance the voices of fishers in decision-making and ensure support for fisheries regulations. 

a barracuda fish swimming amongst a coral reef.
Barracuda Swims A barracuda patrols the reef off Nassau, Bahamas. © Shane Gross

Aquatic and Ocean Health

a close up of a spiny lobster.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster Caribbean spiny lobster, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Jeff Yonover
a close up of a goliath grouper fish.
Goliath Grouper Bahamas Conservancy marine scientist Ancilleno "Leno" Davis, M.Sc., observes a large grouper in the water off Warderick Wells Cay in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays. © Jeff Yonover
Caribbean Spiny Lobster Caribbean spiny lobster, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays and achieve the goal for the long term protection of national parks through the Caribbean Challenge. © Jeff Yonover
Goliath Grouper Bahamas Conservancy marine scientist Ancilleno "Leno" Davis, M.Sc., observes a large grouper in the water off Warderick Wells Cay in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy works closely with partners such as the Bahamas National Trust and the government of the Bahamas to protect the marine habitat of the Exuma Cays. © Jeff Yonover

Coral Conservation

The Bahamas is home to one-third of the Caribbean’s coral reefs. Healthy corals are critical to the ecological and socio-economic productivity of the country’s tourism and fisheries sectors. Coral reefs contribute an estimated USD 671 million in dive related tourism, USD 23.5 million per year to fisheries production, and provide coastal protection for many of the vulnerable communities in The Bahamas. Despite their inherent value, this diverse ecosystem has dramatically declined over the past 50 years due to growing global and local threats. The Nature Conservancy is taking urgent measures to scale funding and on the ground action through scientific innovation and reef positive solutions. TNC is partnering with key stakeholders to advance protection, monitoring and long-term restoration strategies that safeguard coral reefs against stressors like overfishing, pollution, coastal development, coral disease, ocean acidification and other climatic and anthropogenic impacts.

Coral Projects

Coral In Focus

Solomon Gibson Dives Solomon Gibson TNC Diving and collecting data © Kip Evans
Eleuthera Island coral reef Eleuthera Island coral reef, Bahamas © Kip Evans
TNC Diver Fred Arnett TNC Diver Fred Arnett Eleutheran coral reeef. © Kip Evans
Elkhorn Coral - Grand Bahama Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) - Grand Bahama © Kip Evans
coral tree, Bahamas Jessica Wiseman from The Nature Conservancy inspects a staghorn coral nursery tree off New Providence, Bahamas. Staghorn corals are a main reef building coral that are now classified as endangered. Coral nurseries like this are helping them recover. © Shane Gross
Coral Trees in The Bahamas Coral nursery established off Andros Island in the Bahamas to help restore critically endangered Acropora coral species. © Erika Nortemann/TNC
× Solomon Gibson Dives Solomon Gibson TNC Diving and collecting data © Kip Evans
× Eleuthera Island coral reef Eleuthera Island coral reef, Bahamas © Kip Evans
× TNC Diver Fred Arnett TNC Diver Fred Arnett Eleutheran coral reeef. © Kip Evans
× Elkhorn Coral - Grand Bahama Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) - Grand Bahama © Kip Evans
× coral tree, Bahamas Jessica Wiseman from The Nature Conservancy inspects a staghorn coral nursery tree off New Providence, Bahamas. Staghorn corals are a main reef building coral that are now classified as endangered. Coral nurseries like this are helping them recover. © Shane Gross
× Coral Trees in The Bahamas Coral nursery established off Andros Island in the Bahamas to help restore critically endangered Acropora coral species. © Erika Nortemann/TNC

Marine Protected Areas

The archipelago of The Bahamas spans across 100,000 square miles of which approximately 95% of it is ocean. Bahamians rely on our ocean ecosystem to thrive today and in the future. it is imperative to protect the long-term health and productivity of the marine resources that millions of residents and visitors rely on every day.

The Bahamas has long been a Caribbean leader in ocean conservation and currently has 10% of its waters declared as marine protected areas. Current committments from government are to protect and manage at least 20% percent in the near future. Our work in this area prioritizes balancing environmental sustainability and supporting the needs of communities that depend on these areas. This includes supporting effective marine management and implementation of regulations because the establishment of MPA’s that exist only on paper, is not sufficient to protecting Bahamian biodiversity and the resources communities depend on. 

an aerial view of a tropical island and sea.
Andros Island from Above Aerial view of Andros Island in the Bahamas. Andros, the largest and least explored of the Bahamian islands, is home to the Andros Barrier Reef, the third largest coral ecosystem in the world, and the Andros West Side National Park is a jewel in the crown of the Bahamas park system. Over the past decade, the Conservancy has worked with the Bahamian government, partners and communities to protect Andros and other Bahamian islands and waters. © Erika Nortemann/The Nature Conservancy

Make a Difference in The Bahamas

Every acre protected and habitat restored begins with your support.

Donate Today Volunteer With Us!