Environmental Conservation
Jamaica is a mountainous country, with great ecological diversity, from rainforests in the Blue Mountains of eastern Jamaica to lush central valleys, and savannas and desert-like conditions on the southwest coast.
The Bluefields Bay Fish Sanctuary
The National Fisheries Authority in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries created a program of fish sanctuaries in 2009. Eleven were declared initially and the number has now grown to 17 and counting. The Bluefields Bay Sanctuary was established on July 28, 2009. With 1359 hectares, it is one of the largest on the island.
A fish sanctuary is a “Special Fishery Conservation Area” where no fishing is allowed. The main purpose of a fish sanctuary is to create a space in which fish can reproduce to restore a depleted fishery and make it sustainable. The fishery will produce more fish and larger fish that will migrate to areas outside the sanctuary, leading to better catches and a better livelihood for fisherfolk, including fishers, fishmongers, and their dependents.
Fishing is one of the main industries in the Bluefields community. There are approximately 250 fishers in the community and another 100 fishers from other communities who fish the area. A healthy sanctuary requires a healthy marine ecology, which includes healthy coral reefs, sea grasses, mangrove forests fringing the shoreline, wetlands, and mitigation of erosion and agrochemical and sewage runoff.
Fish sanctuaries are managed by a cooperative agreement between the Fisheries Authority and a local NGO, typically a fishers’ organization, and often receive financial support from a foundation as well. The Bluefields Sanctuary is managed by the Bluefields Bay Fishermen’s’ Friendly Society, a local NGO that was formed in 2004 in response to Hurricane Ivan and registered in 2006. Most of the initial sanctuaries were identified by government. The Bluefields sanctuary was unique in that the BBFFS petitioned government to be included, guaranteeing “buy-in” or support from local fishers. The BBFFS has wardens (“Fishery Inspectors”) who patrol the sanctuary and issue citations for violations. They are supported by a Marine Police unit.
Bluefields Bay is also an important area for turtle hatching. The BBFFS policies the hatch areas, protecting them from poachers. In addition, the Society has assisted with government programs using coral gardening and artificial corals to restore the reef system fronting the bay. The Society has received generous funding from several foundations in addition to government, including The Sandals Foundation, Virgin Holidays, The Travel Foundation, Bluefields Villas Foundation, Caribsave, USAID, The Nature Conservancy, Brevard Zoo, and the SWOT (State of the World’s Sea Turtles) program.
A fish sanctuary is a “Special Fishery Conservation Area” where no fishing is allowed. The main purpose of a fish sanctuary is to create a space in which fish can reproduce to restore a depleted fishery and make it sustainable. The fishery will produce more fish and larger fish that will migrate to areas outside the sanctuary, leading to better catches and a better livelihood for fisherfolk, including fishers, fishmongers, and their dependents.
Fishing is one of the main industries in the Bluefields community. There are approximately 250 fishers in the community and another 100 fishers from other communities who fish the area. A healthy sanctuary requires a healthy marine ecology, which includes healthy coral reefs, sea grasses, mangrove forests fringing the shoreline, wetlands, and mitigation of erosion and agrochemical and sewage runoff.
Fish sanctuaries are managed by a cooperative agreement between the Fisheries Authority and a local NGO, typically a fishers’ organization, and often receive financial support from a foundation as well. The Bluefields Sanctuary is managed by the Bluefields Bay Fishermen’s’ Friendly Society, a local NGO that was formed in 2004 in response to Hurricane Ivan and registered in 2006. Most of the initial sanctuaries were identified by government. The Bluefields sanctuary was unique in that the BBFFS petitioned government to be included, guaranteeing “buy-in” or support from local fishers. The BBFFS has wardens (“Fishery Inspectors”) who patrol the sanctuary and issue citations for violations. They are supported by a Marine Police unit.
Bluefields Bay is also an important area for turtle hatching. The BBFFS policies the hatch areas, protecting them from poachers. In addition, the Society has assisted with government programs using coral gardening and artificial corals to restore the reef system fronting the bay. The Society has received generous funding from several foundations in addition to government, including The Sandals Foundation, Virgin Holidays, The Travel Foundation, Bluefields Villas Foundation, Caribsave, USAID, The Nature Conservancy, Brevard Zoo, and the SWOT (State of the World’s Sea Turtles) program.
Flora
Jamaica has over 3,000 kinds of flowering plants, of which 827 are endemic, including more than 200 species of orchids. There are 64 species of native ferns.
Red Ginger
Pineapple
Mangroves
Ackee
Heliconia (wild banana)
Orange Tree
Bird of Paradise
Golden Shrimp Plant
Fauna
You can see 326 species of birds in Jamaica, including 28 endemic or unique to the island, as well as 136 species of butterflies, of which 37 are endemic
American Crocodile
Jamaican Owl (Patoo)
Sea Urchin
Fan Coral
Land Snail
Baby Hawksbill Turtles
Mangroves
As the only trees that can tolerate salt water, they line parts of the coast of the bay. Their underwater roots serve as the perfect nursery for fish.
Mangroves are very efficient at absorbing and storing carbon, making them a critical solution to climate change. They also protect the shoreline from water erosion.
Since the establishment of the fish sanctuary, the mangroves in Bluefields Bay are thriving.
Mangroves are very efficient at absorbing and storing carbon, making them a critical solution to climate change. They also protect the shoreline from water erosion.
Since the establishment of the fish sanctuary, the mangroves in Bluefields Bay are thriving.
Coral Reefs
Jamaica has 479 square miles of coral reefs along its shoreline, home to over 60 different species of coral. Tourism has had a major impact on the health of the reefs, but the people of Bluefields Bay have started many projects to repair and protect the reefs. This includes the fish sanctuary, which has helped restore their habitats. There is also an artificial reef project underway, to further replenish the coral.
Climate
Jamaica has a subtropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 70's to 90's, but those sea breezes will keep you cool! Jamaica gets a lot of rain, 82 inches a year on average, with two rainy seasons: a smaller one in May, and a longer one in September and October. Heavy rains can cause flash flooding and landslides.
The Caribbean is a major target for hurricanes, mainly in August to October. These storms wreak havoc on Jamaica, destroying homes, and stripping trees of fruit. Most of Bluefields Bay is protected by reefs and mangroves, but the coastline is still threatened by erosion from hurricane swells.
The Caribbean is a major target for hurricanes, mainly in August to October. These storms wreak havoc on Jamaica, destroying homes, and stripping trees of fruit. Most of Bluefields Bay is protected by reefs and mangroves, but the coastline is still threatened by erosion from hurricane swells.
Beaches
Jamaica is famous for its beaches, and they are perhaps the main attraction for most tourists. The white sand beaches of tourist ads and TV commercials are to be found along the North Coast, with the best, arguably, in Negril, an hour’s drive from Bluefields on the island’s western tip. By contrast, the South Coast offers a darker sand. There are two principal swimming beaches in Bluefields. The foremost is the Bluefields Beach Park, a government facility with a car park and changing rooms. In the community of Belmont, locals prefer a beach at Black’s Bay, to the east of some old breakwaters, where you will also find beachfront bars and cafes.
Mountains and Forests
Jamaica is a mountainous island, with half the country over 1,000 feet in elevation. The mountains run west to east, like a backbone for the country, and reach a height of 7,402 feet at Blue Mountain peak at the east end. The mountainous interior is surrounded by a coastal plain that can be very wide, as in the south-central part of the island, but is more commonly narrow. Bluefields is “where the mountains kiss the sea,” which is to say that Bluefields Bay is surrounded by mountains rising to as much as 2,596 feet that extend down almost to the water’s edge. The slopes are quite steep. Despite this, during the early British colonial period they were cleared to cultivate various crops such as indigo, sugar cane, citrus, and pimento. Most of the hillsides have grown back to forest today and are sparsely populated, providing a welcome refuge for flora and fauna. RAJ Tours offers guided hikes and birdwatching in the area.
Environmental Protection
There are several governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations dedicated to the protection of the natural environment of Jamaica. They include:
NEPA, The National Environment and Planning Agency
EFJ, The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica
TNC, The Nature Conservancy
JET, The Jamaica Environment Trust