Reports

Field Studies Program, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College

As a result of the Marine Ecosystem Survey and training week we sponsored in April, two classes from CFBC and their professors elected to integrate a field studies program into their Biology and Geography curriculums. This year the SKF was able to provide swimming lessons to the classes, snorkeling gear, field survey materials, professional field mentors, and library materials on marine conservation and management topics, in addition to program design and evaluation with the professors. For the 2008-09 school year we expect to fully implement the program in the field and will work toward gathering data that will be valuable to national level marine survey and conservation projects.

National Beach Cleanup Day, September 28, 2007

Hosted annually by the St. Kitts Department of Physical Planning and Environment, 376 volunteers hit seven beaches around the island (6.75 miles of coastline) picking up 3,630 lbs. of garbage as part of a worldwide effort every September and October parented by the non-profit organization Ocean Conservancy. Local "Clean Beach Ambassadors" included students and teachers from six highschools, Department staff, Marriott staff, and residents armed with gloves, large bags, and forms to record every piece of trash they collected into the categories: Shoreline and Recreational Activities; Ocean/Waterway Activities; Smoking-Related Activities; Dumping Activities; Medical/Personal Hygiene; and Debris of Local Concern. Since the inception of this international event, the Ocean Conservancy has collected this data to better understand where trash in our oceans and waterways comes from, so as to better prevent it through education, policies, and technology. In the category Debris of Local Concern of particular note from all beaches were plastic pieces and comercial sponges. By far, the most common and abundant items found at all beaches were plastic beverage bottles, caps and lids, and plastic bags. (More information on plastic marine debris). The St. Kitts Foundation and the St. Kitts Bottling Company, among other local business houses and institutions, funded the event this year.

Peninsula Marine Ecosystem Survey Week

The St. Kitts Foundation successfully hosted is first event April 25-29, 2007, to get a real-time snapshot of the fish and corals the local nearshore waters harbor and their current health status. These data will be used in support of the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis' current efforts to create a Marine Management Area network.

Executive Summary
REEF report
ReefRelief report

   

St. Kitts Reef Assessment Video, April 26-27, 2007

The video below features random video sampling from four selected sites off of St. Kitts. As you will see, this video highlights certain health problems, including algae overgrowth, distressed coral, distressed sponges, sedimentation and excessive sponge growth. It is the job of the St. Kitts Foundation to help make these reefs healthier. We can start to do this through re-vegetation to prevent sedimentation, and through various controls on excessive nutrients that are causing stress to the reef ecosystem and contributing to the overgrowth of algae. With efforts such as these, the St. Kitts reefs will have a fighting chance!

Grazer Exclusion Demonstration Project

St. Kitts has some of the Caribbean's most beautiful coral reefs, and the Island's well-being depends on their health and resilience. Not only do they provide habitat for fish and other species that help feed the island's residents, they are the focus of a growing tourism economy. But these valuable coral reefs that we all want to protect are suffocating from excess nutrients in the water.

The southeast peninsula of St. Kitts, adjacent to some of the island's best snorkel and dive sites, is over-run with thousands of feral goats, sheep and cows. Their overgrazing and trampling is denuding the land of its natural vegetation. Without vegetation to trap the soil and the animal waste, the reefs and salt ponds are increasingly threatened by siltation and algal blooms caused by the excess nutrients running off the land. In turn, the health of the fish and other marine species is threatened, tourism is threatened, and the sustainable livelihood of the people of St. Kitts is threatened.

To show the effect feral animals have on the vegetation, we have begun a "grazer exclusion" demonstration project. Two experimental plots were fenced off in the Southeast Peninsula to assess which plants recover (and how quickly) when the animals are excluded. The photo shows revegetation after one month's time. We are hopeful that not only the coral reefs but also all nearshore habitats, including mangroves and seagrass beds, can be better protected when the feral animal problem is more fully addressed.

OTHER REPORTS IN ST. KITTS:

St. Kitts & Nevis Coral Reef Sustainable Destination Model

The St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project, Phase 1 White House Bay Wreck

OPAAL Policy Review on St. Kitts & Nevis

Training & Needs Assessement Country Report for St. Kitts & Nevis