Upcoming Science & Policy Symposium 2025—Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has marked a transformative summer of conservation progress, community engagement, and education across The
Bahamas and the broader Caribbean. Building on its mission to conserve bonefish, tarpon, permit, and
their habitats, BTT is celebrating the successful launch of new restoration infrastructure, expansive
youth programming, and the upcoming Bonefish & Tarpon Trust 8th International Science Symposium,
which will unite nearly 50 international experts to chart the future of coastal conservation.
Inspiring the Next Generation Through Summer Camps
This summer, BTT partnered with five organizations across five Bahamian islands to deliver a record
number of youth education programs. In total, ten summer camps and a specialized workshop with law
enforcement officers engaged more than 200 students in hands-on marine science, conservation
activities, and community stewardship.
In addition to youth programs, BTT expanded its community outreach and education initiatives over the
summer, engaging local stakeholders in conservation and restoration efforts. The organization will use
its upcoming symposium to spotlight these grassroots successes at the regional level, ensuring that the
lessons learned in Bahamian communities can inform conservation strategies throughout the Caribbean.
Nina Sanchez, BTT’s Bahamas Education Coordinator, said: “It was inspiring to see so many young people
connect with their environment in meaningful ways. These camps are more than just lessons about
mangroves or fish; they are about fostering pride in our natural resources and instilling a sense of
responsibility to protect them. Watching the excitement and curiosity of the students gives me great
hope for the future of conservation in The Bahamas.”
Crooked Island Mangrove Nursery: A First for the Southern Bahamas In June, BTT and Crooked Island collaborators completed construction of a new mangrove nursery on Crooked Island, designed to support the annual growth of 10,000 red mangrove propagules. This facility—the first of its kind in the Southern Bahamas—will serve as the hub for future restoration across Crooked and Acklins, two islands rich in bonefish habitat but severely impacted by Hurricane Joaquin in 2015.
The storm’s destruction, compounded by sea level rise, left local mangroves unable to naturally recover.
Until now, the absence of nursery infrastructure and consistent seedling supply has prevented
restoration. The new nursery ensures that these critical coastal ecosystems can begin the long process
of renewal, protecting shorelines, supporting fisheries, and sustaining livelihoods.
Justin Lewis, BTT’s Bahamas Research Manager, said: “Working with local guides to begin restoring the
flats they depend on for their livelihoods is exciting and very rewarding. We have been able to transfer
what we’ve learned from our years of mangrove restoration work in Grand Bahama and Abaco to
Crooked Island, which has not been able to recover naturally. This is a great example of collaborating
with fishing guides to conduct essential habitat restoration.”
2025 Bonefish & Tarpon Trust 8th International Science Symposium: Registration Now Open
Looking ahead, BTT will host its 8th International Science Symposium, which will bring together 50
speakers presenting research and conservation in The Bahamas, the US, Belize, Cuba, Mexico, Costa
Rica, Brazil, and the Seychelles to share ongoing research and conservation efforts. The gathering will
provide a platform for scientists, resource managers, the fishing community, and members of the
recreational fishing industry to address pressing conservation challenges and chart collaborative
solutions for the future of flats fisheries and habitats.
Aaron Adams, Ph.D., BTT’s Director of Science and Conservation, said: “The symposium is a great venue
to showcase the collaborations between scientists, the fishing community, and resource managers that
have positively influenced flats conservation. But more importantly, the symposium is a place where
these collaborations can be expanded to build strategies that protect not just fish and their habitats, but
the communities and economies that depend on healthy coastal ecosystems.”
Registration for the symposium is now open at https://www.bonefishtarpontrust.org/symposium/
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