Why Antigua’s Beaches Are Eroding — And What We Must Do About It

Why Antigua’s Beaches Are Eroding — And What We Must Do About It

Antigua & Barbuda is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches on Earth.

But beneath the postcard perfection lies a growing crisis: beach erosion.

This is not a single-cause problem. It’s the result of multiple overlapping pressures — ecological collapse, poor coastal practices, sand removal, reef degradation, dredging, and a lack of serious study into how our beaches are actually formed and maintained.

If we want our children and grandchildren to inherit living beaches — not rock walls and imported sand — we need to understand what’s happening.

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1. Our Beaches Exist Because Our Coral Reefs Exist

For thousands of years, coral reefs off Antigua’s coast grew upward toward the surface.

From Diamond Bank stretching miles toward the islands of the North Sound, reef structures once formed a vast natural barrier system busting up ocean ground swells in the winter months. 

• Healthy reefs break wave energy before it hits the shore.
• They produce massive amounts of sand.
• They create calm lagoons where beaches accumulate.

When reefs are alive and growing near the surface, they act like a natural seawall.

When they die and erode, they become rubble fields that no longer protect the shoreline.

The role coral reefs play in coastal protection is well documented by NOAA:
NOAA – Coral Reefs as Natural Coastal Protection

Today, many of these reef systems are largely degraded.

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2. Why Have the Reefs Died?

Climate Change & Coral Bleaching

Warmer seas stress corals, causing bleaching events that reduce resilience.
NOAA – Coral Bleaching Explained

Overfishing — Especially Herbivores

Herbivorous fish like parrotfish (locally called chub) are essential to reef survival.

• They eat algae that would otherwise smother corals.
• They clean reef surfaces so new coral larvae can settle.
• They produce enormous quantities of sand.

When herbivores are removed:

• Algae takes over.
• Coral recruitment drops.
• Reef growth slows or stops.
• Structural complexity collapses.

The International Coral Reef Initiative summarizes this clearly:
Parrotfish: Key to Reef Survival

Over and uncontrolled fishing of herbivores continues to this day.

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3. Parrotfish: The Unsung Sand Factories

Parrotfish scrape coral surfaces to feed on algae.

In doing so, they grind calcium carbonate skeletons into sand.

Scientific research has quantified this sediment production:
Yarlett et al. (2021) – Quantifying Parrotfish Sediment Production

When we eat parrotfish:

• We remove reef cleaners.
• We reduce coral recovery.
• We reduce sand production.
• We accelerate erosion.

The first first first thing we must do is completely ban the consumption of parrotfish for a period of ten years at the least. Other islands have full time bans in order to mitigate all the other effects hitting the our reefs. Mitigation is the name of the game when it comes to attempting to deal with climate change. 

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4. Sand Theft — “Just a Few Buckets”

Many people believe they have the legal authority to take “just a few buckets.” It was from something VC Bird once said I think.

But sand removal is regulated under the Beach Protection Act:
Beach Protection Act (Cap. 46)

Enforcement was strengthened in 2020:
Beach Protection (Amendment) Act 2020

Removing sand:

• Disrupts dune systems.
• Exposes root structures.
• Reduces natural storm buffers.
• Accelerates shoreline retreat.

Stealing sand — even a bucket — is not harmless and it's illegal for good reason. 

It is a serious crime against the people of Antigua & Barbuda and the environment we must protect for future generations. Sand has been stolen from every single beach in our country that has road access. I've seen sand taken from many beaches that do not have road access. Backhoes clear paths for trucks and sand is removed even from remote beaches. However the beaches where pickups cars or trucks can pull up to the sand are ones which have been really hit devastating sand removal for decades. Fort James and Runaway have been hit hard but are not unique. They just get bad ground swell. The terrible shape that those beaches are in cannot totally be blamed on the dredging of Saint John's. There are some small beaches on the other side of the harbour where you cannot get close to with your vehicle that are doing fairly well. Darkwood had hundreds of truckloads of sand taken from it after the storms in the 80s pushed it over the road into the swamp. Instead of putting it back on the beach, public works gave permission for industrial send money to take place. I've seen the same thing happening in crab Hill after storms. 2 weeks ago trucks took sand from Darkwood. Sand is taken from jabbawock almost daily. Ffreyes Beach, little ffreyes, Morris Bay, Cades Bay, Half Moon.... All of them have had endless sand taken from them so this thing isn't about any one thing but for sure government could make a major change in the way that we monitor and deal the stealing of OUR sand. Many people knew that it would take a toll but for some reason many more thought that the sand would never finish. 

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5. Seagrass, Dredging & Offshore Disturbance

Seagrass ecosystems trap and stabilize sand. They reduce wave energy and host sand-producing organisms.

The impacts of dredging on seagrass and coral are well studied:

• Dredging Impacts on Seagrass
• Dredging and Coral Health

For a country economically dependent on beaches, not fully understanding our sand budget is risky.

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What Must Be Done

• Completely ban the consumption of parrotfish.
• Completely ban removal of sand from all beaches.
• Increase patrols, arrests, and convictions.
• Provide accessible imported sand (bagged & bulk).
• Regulate vessel beaching practices.
• Ban dumping rocks along shorelines unless proper studies are done.
• Stop dredging until sand budgets are scientifically understood.
• Make sure that extensive study is done by at least two different and independent firms who have expertise in environmentally friendly offshore sand dredging to figure it out before any dredging. Environmental impact assessment studies must be done by more than one firm independent of any contractor associated with the dredging or with the government. 
• Sand should not be taken from any area that is deemed to be of biodiversity importance. 

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This Is About Survival

Beaches are not decorative features.

They are infrastructure.
They are economic engines.
They are storm barriers.
They are cultural heritage.
They are ecological systems.

Protect herbivores.
Protect reefs.
Protect seagrass.
Protect sand.

Or watch our beaches disappear — bucket by bucket, fish by fish, dredge by dredge.

For a small island nation, this is not optional.

It is existential.

Protecting Beach Access and Historical Sites: A Policy for the Future in the Face of Climate Change!

Protecting Beach Access and Historical Sites: A Policy for the Future in the Face of Climate Change

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) stand on the frontline of the global climate crisis. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the degradation of natural and cultural heritage are more than distant threats—they are stark realities. For governments in SIDS, crafting policies to protect beach access and access to historical sites for local citizens is not merely an act of preservation but a critical step toward sustainable development and climate resilience. By ensuring access to these natural and historical assets, governments safeguard not only environmental and cultural treasures but also the social and economic well-being of future generations.

The Concept of Sustainable Development in SIDS

Sustainable development seeks to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. For SIDS, whose economies often depend heavily on tourism, fisheries, and agriculture, this balance is particularly delicate.

Beaches and historical sites serve as pillars of this sustainability framework. Beaches provide ecological services such as storm surge protection, carbon sequestration in coastal ecosystems, and biodiversity habitats, while also being central to tourism and local recreation. Historical sites, on the other hand, foster a sense of identity, preserve unique cultural heritage, and attract cultural tourism, which can stimulate local economies. The preservation and equitable accessibility of these resources are vital to ensuring that SIDS can sustainably develop without eroding their natural and cultural foundations.

Climate Change: A Direct Threat to Natural and Historical Assets

The impacts of climate change are disproportionately felt in SIDS. Rising sea levels erode beaches, threatening not only biodiversity but also local livelihoods and tourism revenues. Storm surges and hurricanes, increasing in intensity and frequency, damage infrastructure and historical landmarks. For instance, UNESCO has identified several world heritage sites in SIDS as at-risk due to climate change.

Without proactive policies, these losses could cascade into broader societal challenges. Beach erosion reduces public access and narrows opportunities for recreation and livelihoods. Similarly, the destruction or neglect of historical sites leads to cultural amnesia and diminished national identity. The disappearance of these resources would leave future generations deprived of their intrinsic and economic value.

The Role of Beach and Historical Site Access in Social Development

Access to beaches and historical sites is not just about recreation or tourism; it is about equity and social inclusion. In many SIDS, these resources are deeply embedded in local traditions, serving as spaces for community gatherings, cultural ceremonies, and education. Ensuring that all citizens—not just wealthy elites or tourists—can access these areas strengthens social cohesion and inclusivity.

1. Promoting Mental and Physical Well-Being: Public beach access provides opportunities for physical activity, mental relaxation, and community interaction. In the face of rising stressors from climate change, these spaces act as natural sanctuaries, fostering resilience in local populations.

2. Cultural Continuity: Historical sites tell the stories of a community's past, anchoring its identity in an ever-changing world. For SIDS, where oral traditions and cultural practices are often tied to specific locations, preserving access ensures that these traditions can be passed down to future generations.

3. Education and Awareness: Beaches and historical sites can be integrated into educational programs to raise awareness about climate change, sustainability, and cultural heritage. By connecting people, especially youth, to these resources, governments can nurture a more environmentally conscious and culturally literate citizenry.

Economic Implications of Protected Access

From an economic perspective, protecting access to beaches and historical sites is equally critical. Tourism is often the backbone of SIDS economies, contributing significantly to GDP and employment. However, tourism growth must be managed sustainably to prevent overexploitation and ensure that its benefits are equitably shared.

1. Sustainable Tourism Development: Publicly accessible and well-maintained beaches and historical sites attract tourists while ensuring that local communities also benefit. Governments can implement policies such as user fees for tourists, reinvesting these funds into conservation efforts and infrastructure development.

2. Local Livelihoods: Many small-scale businesses, such as fishermen, artisans, and local tour operators, rely on the accessibility of beaches and historical landmarks. Protecting these spaces secures livelihoods and empowers local economies.

3. Resilience Against Climate Risks: Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure around these sites—such as seawalls, vegetation buffers, and elevated walkways—not only protects them from climate impacts but also enhances their value as assets for both locals and tourists. Such measures demonstrate how climate adaptation and economic development can go hand in hand.

Climate Mitigation Through Conservation

Beach ecosystems, particularly mangroves and seagrasses, act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide. By protecting beaches and coastal ecosystems from privatization and overdevelopment, governments contribute to global climate mitigation efforts. Moreover, maintaining natural coastlines reduces the need for costly artificial defenses against erosion and flooding, which often have higher carbon footprints.

Historical sites also play a role in climate mitigation through adaptive reuse and preservation. Restoring old structures rather than constructing new ones minimizes resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, cultural landscapes—such as traditional agricultural terraces in some SIDS—often embody sustainable practices that can be revived to address modern challenges.

Policy Recommendations for Protecting Access

To ensure that future generations in SIDS can continue to enjoy and benefit from beaches and historical sites, governments must adopt a multi-pronged approach:

1. Legal Protections: Enact legislation that designates beaches and historical sites as public goods, ensuring open access while regulating their use to prevent degradation.

2. Climate-Resilient Planning: Incorporate climate risk assessments into the management of these sites, prioritizing investments in natural infrastructure and adaptive conservation strategies.

3. Community Involvement: Engage local communities in decision-making processes to ensure that policies reflect their needs and cultural values. Community-based management can foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.

4. Education and Outreach: Launch programs to educate citizens and tourists about the importance of these assets and their role in sustainability and climate resilience.

5. Sustainable Financing: Develop innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds and international partnerships, to fund the protection and maintenance of these sites.

Conclusion: A Legacy for Future Generations

The challenges posed by climate change demand forward-thinking policies that prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains. Protecting access to beaches and historical sites in SIDS is not just about preserving scenic or cultural landmarks—it is about safeguarding livelihoods, fostering social cohesion, and building resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.

For future generations, the ability to walk along a pristine beach or stand in awe before a centuries-old monument will serve as a reminder of their heritage and a testament to the wisdom of their ancestors. By acting today to protect these invaluable resources, governments in SIDS can create a legacy of sustainable development and climate resilience, ensuring that these treasures endure for centuries to come.

www.adventureantigua.com

Are beaches really important to A&B?

Tourism and specifically coastal beach tourism is responsible for over 60% of Antigua and Barbuda's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and it often seems that as a nation we are careless or complacent with what the industry relies upon. Wonderful beaches are what has built this economy and are what we as citizens boast about whenever we travel. That being said, our beaches have seen shocking degradation over the past few decades, and it appears to me that they are deteriorating at much more rapid rate than they are being replenished. In fact, that's fairly obvious to anyone who's being paying attention.
As is the case with so many crucially important things in life, "attention" is the thing lacking and unfortunately while beaches are getting smaller and smaller Antigua and Barbuda as a nation isn't taking notice.
I suppose before we can deal with the problem or even before we can identify a problem, we need to understand what a beach is, how it came to be and most importantly, how it is sustained in it's natural environment.
When we speak about beaches, we are speaking about bays, coves or shorelines that have a sandy buffer between the sea and the land. Sand is made up of different materials depending on where in the world you find it. In many areas in North America the sand is made up of silica or silicon dioxide which essentially comes from eroded quartz rock. Here in Antigua and Barbuda and most of the Caribbean the sand has a different makeup. Primarily sand here is made up of eroded or crushed up corals and shells which really are made from calcium carbonate. This is why islands like Barbuda that have more reefs usually have more beaches and islands like Redonda that have no off shore or barrier reefs have no sandy beaches. So if you think about it, there is an essential and direct correlation between a healthy reef system and a healthy beach system. Of course we are speaking about how these things naturally occur. For example, one could build some stone groynes to make a cove over on Redonda and barge in mined sand from Barbuda to fill it with. Presto! You have a nice sandy beach on an island that never had one. That is done around the Caribbean and quite a bit on Long Island (Jumby Bay).
I guess we could spend plenty of time speaking about what healthy reefs look like and to be honest, most people don't remember or have never seen a healthy reef. Reefs in the Caribbean haven't been "healthy" since the late 1980s. Since then scientists have reported unprecedented degradation and die offs. For the purpose of this little article I will quickly and basically explain about how healthy reefs produce sand. A reef is made up of millions and millions of organisms and the main coral structures are made from calcium carbonate. These structures, when alive, are often challenged by different types of algae (a type of moss) that attempt to grow on them. If algae is permitted to grow over the coral stuctures then the life sustaining sunlight is blocked from the coral polyps. Polyps are living organisms which often produce the limestone structures we call corals. They need light to survive and when algae manages to grow over them, they perish. For millions of years polyps have had the upper hand thanks to a symbiotic relationship with herbivore grazers like parrotfish (chub fish), surgeon fish and other marine species including urchins. Those critically important parrotfish feed on the algae keeping the reef alive, but the magic is what happens as a result. When parrotfish chew algae from a section of coral they usually bite of bits of dead coral. Most of the time they ingest it and pass it through their systems as they digest the algae. What comes out is magical "white gold" or sand. Some of the most important poo in the world in fact! That poo as I mentioned contains the sand which is  essentially responsible for about 60% of our GDP. I know that is kinda far fetched for most people who are probably laughing and shaking their heads right now, but do some reading on what parrotfish do. According to scientists, one adult parrotfish can produce 90 kilos of sand a year while keeping the reefs clean from algae. A healthy reef is covered in parrotfish and other algae eating animals which for millions of years not only sustained the reefs but produced millions of tonnes of sand. Take them away from the reef and anyone can deduce what happens next. However, you would have needed to be paying attention to have noticed all these crucially important relationships. We here in Antigua and Barbuda were not paying attention. In fact, the biggest seafood export out of Antigua and Barbuda over the past five years has been parrotfish. It has probably been our biggest export. Thousands of pounds a week of netted parrotfish were brought ashore to be sold both here and shipped abroad to our French neighbors. Pause and think about that for a moment. We rely on healthy beaches which rely on healthy reefs which rely on healthy populations of parrotfish and other herbivore species, but we are wiping the reefs clean of the parrotfish.
I remember being on a radio show with Chief Environmental Officer, Dianne Black Lane a few years ago and she remarking that the most important wild life form we have in our country is the parrotfish and one that needed to be protected more than any other. Sadly, the Environment Division she heads has no more legislative powers than the parrotfish themselves.
Coupled with out of control reef fishing, the reefs have also had to face several incredibly strong hurricanes in the 1990s. Scientists showed that reefs hit by hurricanes within carefully managed marine parks were able to "bounce back" to a point where healthy coral regrowth occurred. Of course, reefs that had poor management and where heavy fishing still took place struggled to stay alive, and in example after example the corals died out completely.
This brings me to another key factor that helps keep beaches healthy. Of course, we've already spoken about how the sand is created and how that process keeps reefs healthy, but by extension, healthy reefs often form an essential barrier or buffer from the Atlantic Ocean's waves and surges. We have seen areas of reef that boats couldn't navigate through because of depth issues become so degraded that they are now safely navigable. Kettle Bottom Shoal on Antigua's north coast is a great example of that. With the reef now deeper than it was back in the 80s we are seeing more surge and more wave action getting to beaches like Dutchmans Bay and Jabbawock. Climate Change effects like rising sea levels are not helping either! With more wave action there is often more erosion on beaches. Unfortunately these beaches are not being sustained with new fresh sand like they have been historically because of the depletion of parrotfish and other herbivore fish.
That isn't the end of the story because as if beaches didn't have enough to worry about, they have their biggest assault on the land side. Beach sand has been used when making concrete for generations and with more and more homes being built from concrete and fewer from wood, it appears to me that there is more and more removal of sand from beaches. There are few beaches in Antigua that are safe from sand mining and those that have easy access from the road are more susceptible to the problem. There is a common misconception that it is perfectly legal to remove a bucket or two from the beach. I am not sure how this terribly damaging concept came about, but many popular beaches have buckets of sand removed daily from them. I started a mobile kitesurfing school on Jabbawock beach in 2001 and we have seen this first hand since then. Thousands and thousands of bucket loads are taken from this beach and the same happens around the island. Often times there is more taken than a bucket or two at a time removed. If you take a slow walk along Jabbawock Beach you will see the trenches and holes where sand is scraped up into containers almost daily. It is beyond me how people think this wont have a negative affect on the beach.... our most important asset.
Yesterday I received calls about a misguided citizen who decided that he would do what he described as a community service down at Jabbawock beach. The beach has been receiving plenty of Atlantic sargasso seaweed recently and as an excavator owner he took it upon himself to ignore the massive sign about nesting sea turtles, about not driving on the beach or removing sand. He had two of his massive excavators go on to the beach and clear the live shoreline vegetation up to twenty meters from the high water mark up and down a 300 meter secton of beach. The scaevola, green button mangrove, sea grape, grasses and other vegetation not only provide crucial nesting cover for critically endangered sea turtles and other coastal marine species including migratory birds, but they also help prevent erosion by holding sand together in their root systems and foliage. In many countries it is illegal to touch coastal vegetation with stiff fines for even walking on sand dune vegetation. Yesterday all of this was destroyed and leveled on the South end of Jabbawock. The excavators operated under the cover of darkness and clumsily cleared small trees and habitat up and down the beach. They stopped in the morning. Several concerned citizens including myself contacted the various authorities in an attempt to make sure the excavators were moved from the beach and that work would be stopped. I was interviewed by Observer Radio about the situation before lunch explaining what was going down and further explaining that the 1980s environmental legislation isn't strong enough to deal with situations like this. The Environmental Management Bill, drafted by government technicians after help from international consultants and consultations with stakeholders, has been finished and has been sitting on various ministers desks for years and years. The government's inaction to get this bill signed into law is indirectly causing huge environmental damage daily on this little twin island state. One can only ponder why they have not gotten in passed into law. Anyway, despite this interview and all the calls to the relevant authorities, the man doing the excavation work called into a local radio talk show to explain himself. According to him he was "cleaning the seaweed" from the shore where he and many other swim. At 2 pm he continued to say he was returning to the beach to do more work. By the time we got back to the beach, he was at it again tearing up wonderfully healthy beach vegetation and leveling the beach by removing the dunes.
How could all of the various government agencies including the police know of the situation and not do anything to stop further destruction. It really showed just how flawed our system is and how little we actually care for the health of our beaches. We here in Antigua and Barbuda seem to have our heads in the sand figuratively while literally the sand vanishes daily. Apart from paying more attention to our most important natural resource, we need the Environmental Managment Bill signed into law immediately before it's just too late.

Eli Fuller
President of Antigua Conservation Society
Managing director of Adenture Antigua

An alternative to Sand Mining in Barbuda.

Light tackle and deep sea sport fishing could be one of the main ways that the residents of Barbuda make a living after sand mining is finally put to rest. The destructive and irrational practice of large scale sand mining has been one of the main income generators of our sister island for decades, and despite engineers' and environmental consultants' best advice to stop, government has continued to sanction the lucrative yet unhealthy practice. 
Barbuda is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean with dazzling white sand beaches stretching around most of it's deserted coastline. Approximately half of the coast is protected by barrier reef, and it's this reef which has helped to produce most of the island's wonderful sand. For millions of years parrot fish have chewed algae from coral which they easily digest. The bit's of chewed coral which are not digested are excreted as sand onto the sea floor. This essential process for Caribbean white sand production has made Barbuda one of the most attractive beach destinations in the region. One of the island's beaches is about the longest in the Caribbean, and at different times of the year tiny pink shells wash up on the shore turning the beach pink. There's nothing quite like it to be honest.
With all of this in mind it's hard to accept that commercial mining of this amazing sand has gone on without noticeable regulation for decades. It's to the point now that serious environmental issues are threatening the island's water supply and more critically the integrity of the coastline. We are starting to see erosion on some areas of shoreline closest to the mining. Some environmentalists think that the damage being done is so severe that it would take hundreds if not thousands of years for it to be corrected. Coupled with that has been a huge increase in the amount of parrot fish caught for export to Guadeloupe. Neither practice sustainable in any way and equally destructive for the beaches.
It would seem that mining the very thing that makes the island a sought after destination would be a bad decision, but the decision makers can't seem to find an alternative income generator. I can see why this has been difficult. Tourism in Barbuda has always lagged behind Antigua mainly because of transportation.
Without a large airport, there simply has never been enough seats coming to Barbuda to fill guest houses and hotels in any meaningful way. Tourism and all of the fun things that go along with tourism like sport fishing for example, have had it tough forcing the government to keep the mining of sand going. This could all change in the near future if decision makers are brave enough to entertain alternative business plans.
One of several changes that could happen has to do with Cruise Tourism. Many of the ships visiting some of the Caribbean's most celebrated destinations anchor off shore and tender their guests to little docks on the main land. Without any significant investment this could happen in Barbuda almost immediately. One or two small ships a week could provide significantly more employment than the entire mining industry does in Barbuda. In addition to that, the types of jobs generated would be ideal for Barbuda's residents who would be able to conduct both light tackle and off shore fishing opportunities. Barbuda has all of the top game fish species endemic to it's coastline and interior lagoon. Species like bonefish, tarpon, permit, barracuda, jacks, mackerel, wahoo, dolphin fish, tuna, marlin, sailfish and many others are not difficult to find for Barbuda's experienced fishers. Of course there is great diving, snorkeling and bird watching too. The island is a nature lovers dream come true, and there is no end to the excursion activities that could be designed to make cruise passengers happy. From an environemtal point of view, cruise tourism as an alternative to commercial sand mining is a no brainer. Limited capital investment would be needed to get a foot in the door and with all visitors coming to the island by tender there would be very little waste of any sort left by ships. They would not leave anything on the island except footprints and money. The potential to make Barbuda the main sport fishing destination in the eastern Caribbean is there and just waiting for the first ship to drop anchor. Until that happens white sand is still being exported to Antigua and other destinations to be irrationally used in construction.

Dear Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, you must take simple action to save our reefs!

netted parrotfish by the thousands taken from the reefs

In the past five days 1400 people have signed a petition to the Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda. The petition has been organized by The Antigua Conservation Society and asks for the PM's help in getting the 2004 Fisheries Act signed by the Fisheries Minister who for one reason or another has not done so for years. While the Act sits languishing on his desk, the marine eco systems of Antigua and Barbuda have suffered tremendously. We are still working with legislation from the early 80s. This 2004 Fisheries Act was carefully drawn up after consultations and input with the major stakeholders including but not limited to The Fishermen's Cooperative, The Sports Fishing Association, and The Environmental Awareness Group.

Change.org|Free Online Petitions

There are way too many areas of our coastal environment that are being neglected simply because there are no laws that can help them. The Chief Fisheries Officer is quoted time and time again as saying that her hands are tied until the regulations are signed. The person who need to sign it told me and others who were meeting him one day when he was Junior Minister of Tourism that he can't swim and has no interest at all going out on the water on any boat. This doesn't mean he isn't capable of understanding the issues here, but I can't help feel that he doesn't. Article after article is published like this one today featured in The Daily Observer: St. John’s Antigua- Having almost ravaged the fishing stock off Antigua, Barbuda-based marine biologist John Mussington says fishermen are now looking to employ their harmful practices on the sister isle. Their primary target: the parrot fish, which Mussington revealed, fishers are going at great lengths to capture. “That particular category of fishermen they cleaned out all the reefs in Antigua.” “The guys, not Antiguans, come and they set their gill nets and camp out on the shores over here. They target the parrot fish alone and there have been reports that they are using bleach to hunt them,” the marine biologist said. According to Mussington, when the foreign fishermen catch fish that is not the parrot fish, they dispose of them on the beaches of Barbuda. The fishermen try their best to avoid local fishers, Mussington told OBSERVER Media, plying their harmful trade when local fishermen have retired for the day. He said several attempts including calling the Coast Guard for assistance have been employed to try to stop the fish invasion off Barbuda. “People in Barbuda have tried to confiscate the nets, but it’s a losing battle. They apparently have official blessings for what they are going.” The problem has persisted for about two years, but Mussington disclosed that efforts to use bad fishing practices off the island have intensified in recent months. “Just yesterday, I received a report from a fisherman who is frustrated over here,” Mussington said adding that several reports have been made to the police. The concerns by the marine biologist comes on the heels of a Fisheries Division study which found that urgent action is needed to save the parrot fish from the gill-netting and spare fishing practices. In response to the anxiety over the local fisheries stock, the Antigua Conservation Association commissioned an online petition to force government to sign off on fisheries regulations that would aid in the protection of the marine eco-systems. Despite articles like these being written, despite desperate calls from The Fishermens Cooperative, which is the biggest association of fishermen, despite calls from all the Environmental Groups, his own Chief Fisheries Officer, and many others, Hilson Babtiste still doesn't sign it. 8000 lbs of parrotfish, almost as many reef snappers and reef groupers are being exported through the Fisheries Department to the French islands. Remember that parrotfish are the key species keeping our reefs healthy by cleaning the coral damaging algae with each fish producing about 180 lbs of sand a year. Healthy parrotfish populations mean healthy reefs and plenty of sand production. Also with healthy reefs there is less wave action and currents getting to our shores and causing beach erosion. More on parrotfish by clicking this link. As you have just read the Daily Observer article, you can see that The Fisheries Ministry knows that the parrotfish are in trouble, but for some reason they still are permitting them to be decimated through the use of huge gill nets which fishermen put along the east coast of our shores just outside the reef. We are at a tipping point, a tipping point that the cod fishermen of the North Atlantic went beyond and destroyed their own industry and way of live. Many species here including parrotfish are in danger of being wiped out due to the lack of fisheries management and stronger regulations. The 2004 Fisheries Act needs to be signed. You can help. You have spent longer reading this blog than it takes to sign the petition. The Prime Minister of our nation will see your signature and will see your comment if you leave one. Please take a moment to sign it, and as important as signing it is sharing it with your email and facebook contacts. There are a few key points which come to mind that make the new fisheries act way better than the old outdated one. The new regulations will change quite a few things which include: Stricter measures for conservation of key species: Lobster – now introduces regulations against removing "tar spot" …something that is now practiced because of EU requirements that lobsters with tar shouldn’t be shipped but for which there is no regulation under the current Fisheries regs. Also introduces closed season for lobster Conch – introduces closed season and stronger penalties for fishermen who harvest undersized conch. Turtles – hawksbills and leatherbacks would be fully protected. Greens may be allowed for capture (if an open season is declared) but with a maximum size limit as opposed to minimum size limit (as per WIDECAST recommendation) Also specifically prohibits harassment of nesting females and take of hatchlings and allows for declaration of protected turtle nesting beaches. Permitting requirements for other species that are not currently managed. e.g. Whelks, cockle and urchins.. Fishers would also need to request permits to harvest certain species. So it is not automatic that once you are a fisher you can harvest anything. It's quite possible that there could be permits for parrotfish (chub fish). Now regulates fishing inland (in ponds and dams). Better controls over gear Nets – the old act only sets regulations on seines…nothing for gill nets. With the new regs there are size restrictions on mesh, prohibition of multi-panel nets and restriction on soak time. The use of any gear not specifically regulated under the Act would need the permission of the CFO. Sets controls for sport fishing The most significant change with the new regulations is that we move to license fishers…not just the boats. And it sets requirements that anyone who wishes to be licensed must undergo some sort of training (to include sessions on conservation). In doing this the regulations also allows for licenses of fishers who break the laws to be suspended from fishing (penalties get progressively higher for repeat offenses). It also allows the Chief Fisheries Officer to refuse a license if there are grounds. New entrants to the fishery would be subject to a probationary period. This will hopefully allow us to catch under the net the people who swim out or use jet skis etc. Other things are: -providing way stiffer penalties for people who break the law as right now the penalties are not worth pursuing in the legal system. -giving the fisheries department more control of fisheries issues instead of having most of the control sitting in the hands of the minister. We have to get this thing signed by the Fisheries Minister as it's the first step on a road to a better marine environment and a better shot at having our fishing industry managed in a sustainable way so that generations of fishers to come may find something to fish for. Please sign the petition to Hon. Baldwin Spencer: