| July 2, 2010 |
Jamaica – Protecting the Earth's Wonders |
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The Montego Bay Marine Park Trust employs a handful of people who work to enforce marine law and prevent the destruction of natural habitat. |
Montego Bay is one of Jamaica's national treasures. Its white sandy beaches and dazzling coral reefs make the area a tourism hub. While the booming industry is the main source of income for Montego Bay, it is also one of the reasons why the local ecosystem is under serious threat. Peace Boat participants travelled to the office of the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust, which is the body responsible for ensuring the long-term survival of the fragile environment. The area was named a conservation site in 1991, but this has not stopped the continued destruction of reefs and mangrove forests. |
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| Heavy downpours wash much of the litter dumped on the beaches and streets of Montego Bay into the ocean. |
The Trust was created in 1996 to prevent habitats within bay from further deterioration. By the time the 15.3 kilometre area was under the care of park rangers, the reef was in serious trouble. "Entire species of fish in some areas are gone," explained Samantha Brooke, a volunteer at the trust. During a lecture for Peace Boat participants, she said that human activity is the main threat to the marine park. Large sections of the natural environment have been destroyed because of unsustainable fishing, pollution from household chemicals and irresponsible tourism practices. |
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| Devon Grey said that some parts of the reef have suffered heavily and changed since he was a child living in the area. |
Devon Grey is a ranger at the marine park who also manages a group of fishermen that are part of a local cooperative. "The two main functions of the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust are education and the enforcement of laws," he said. One of the first actions of the Trust was to stop illegal land clearing, littering in the ocean and beaches, and irresponsible fishing. Park rangers are responsible for preventing the government, businesses and citizens from inflicting damage to the ecosystem. |
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Oil spills, chemicals and pollutants from other sources such as rusted wrecks are some of the hazards which put the marine environment under strain. |
Fishermen are the most resistant to the changes because there is little compensation for the loss of their income or livelihoods. But they are also the main beneficiaries of the park's protection, Mr Grey said. "We can create sustainable fishing by making some small changes such as catching fish over a certain size and not fishing certain species during certain times in the breeding cycle." Many fishermen have found employment in the tourism sector which has been growing steadily because of the concerted effort to protect local habitats. |
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The mangrove forests are vital for the continued survival of many animals including some species of large birds called boobys. |
The rapid growth of tourism in Montego Bay has caused the population to triple during the last 25 years. Unfortunately, this has coincided with the destruction of up to 20 per cent of the coral system in some areas of the marine park. One of the best measures of preventing further loss within the ecosystem is to educate the local community about how the area can be protected. The Trust regularly holds workshops for children to teach them how they can do to protect the area by disposing of litter responsibly and using less household chemicals. |
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Under the ocean's surface there was an array of wildlife including sting rays, sponges, sea slugs and scores of different fish species. |
Locals and tourists develop a greater appreciation of the marine environment by combining education with fun activities such as snorkelling and other water sports. Peace Boat participants were taken for a tour of the bay where they saw the reef and mangrove forests up close. They swam in the crystal clear ocean where they were surrounded by coral and tropical fish. Amidst the dazzling array of colours, it became clear to all that this ecosystem is worth protecting. |
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