[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he West End Eco-Fishing Camp Association (WEEFCA) recently played an important role in helping U.S.-based non-profit organization, Community Conch, accomplish a stock assessment of conch populations off of West End, Grand Bahama. Researchers from Community Conch were in the area June 19-26, 2014 to survey the conch fishing grounds out from West End toward Memory Rock and Mantanilla Shoal. Harold Johnson of West End assisted the researchers in their work. Keith and Linda Barry-Cooper of WEEFCA provided logistical support and joined the team for a morning of surveying.
Linda Barry-Cooper, WEEFCA Chairman remarked, “We are delighted to provide support to Community Conch as they complete their work around the Little Bahama Bank to assess the conch population. WEEFCA has extended our reach to branch out into areas that support marine conservation efforts in the northern Bahamas region. We look forward to expanding our partnerships with international conservation organizations like Community Conch.”
Many of the community stakeholders and local fisherman of West Grand Bahama are keenly aware that there is not an infinite supply of conch and often travel 20 miles or more to find the sought after delicacy. WEEFCA Director Keith Cooper states, “It is imperative that we continue to educate our youth about protecting conch and other marine life from overfishing and to encourage educational and training programs to ensure that conch will remain a sustainable resource for many generations.”
WEEFCA’s focus is to educate children 8-16 years old about environmental stewardship, to ensure that the children from West End learn about entrepreneur and career opportunities in marine biology, environmental science, ecology tour guide, boat engine repair, oceanography, back yard farming, solar and wind technology and aqua-culture.
According to Community Conch Field Representative Catherine Booker, “This is our sixth season of surveying conch fishing grounds in The Bahamas. Each year we’ve been extremely fortunate to have support from volunteers and community members and organizations like WEEFCA that are concerned about the changes they’ve seen in the conch populations. We couldn’t do our work without them.”
Community Conch is a small organization of scientists and volunteers who are gathering the scientific information necessary to manage a sustainable conch fishery in The Bahamas. Community Conch works with the Department of Marine Resources to identify areas that need to be surveyed and provides funding and volunteer support to collect the data.
Through collaboration with other conservation organizations, and the Department of Marine Resources, Community Conch has surveyed six areas in The Bahamas, including this years’ survey of the Little Bahama Bank. After leaving West End aboard Shedd Aquarium’s research vessel, Coral Reef II, the survey team headed north to the Mantanilla Reef and east to Grand Cay, Abaco. More information about Community Conch’s work can be found on their website www.communityconch.org.
The West End Eco-Fishing Camp Association works in conjunction with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to offer this youth program focusing on ecology, fishing, boating, sailing and swimming to members of the West Grand Bahama community. For more information on WEEFCA, call (242) 602-0641 or email weefca@yahoo.com.