Wildlife Reserve Sign Installation on Remote Grenadine Islands
Although the Grenadines span approximately 100 kilometers and contain more than 70 islands, rocks and cays, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is bringing people throughout the region together through a shared resource – seabirds. In December 2019, a crew consisting of members from Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines installed “Wildlife Reserve” signs on Battowia and Petit Canouan in the northern Grenadines. Working in cooperation with the Department of Forestry, the signs were designed to inform the public of regulations protecting these vital conservation zones. Battowia and Petit Canouan are two of the most critical nesting islands for seabirds in the Saint Vincent Grenadines and indeed in the entire Caribbean. Unfortunately, although both islands have been designated as national Wildlife Reserves since 1989, they continue to experience many illegal activities, such as seabird harvesting, overgrazing of livestock, and burning of vegetation.
2019 SVG Battowia sign – Placing an informational sign on Battowia required navigating a rocky landing by boat.
The transboundary Grenadines harbour tens of thousands of breeding seabirds in remote, isolated and inaccessible colonies. Some of these islands are globally significant for seabird populations, meaning that they harbour at least 1%of the global population for a species. While Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has established Wildlife Reserves on many of their remote Grenadine islands, Grenada has yet to advance legal protection for seabirds and their nesting habitats.
The sign installation crew consisted primarily of fisherfolk from Carriacou and Bequia, representing a transboundary effort for seabird conservation – a milestone for both countries of Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and for seabirds, who have received very little attention in the region. Carriacou fisherman and sailor Vaughn Thomas lent his sailboat and sailing skills to access the offshore islands and directed the installation operation. He was assisted by Cassion Grant and Oron Compton, two fishermen from Paget Farm, Bequia, who contributed their invaluable knowledge of both islands and surrounding waters. One team member recounted how he learned about all of the Grenadine islands through his grandfather, who taught him how to fish, build boats, navigate and other critical survival skills required for a young man of the Grenadines to make a living and survive at sea.
2019 SVG Battowia sign installed – EPIC Project Coordinator Juliana Coffey and Project Assistant Vaughn Thomas with the newly installed informational sign on Battowia, an international Important Bird Area for nesting seabirds.
While on Battowia, EPIC Project Coordinator and Seabird Biologist Juliana Coffey documented a sizable Magnificent Frigatebird colony. Magnificent Frigatebirds had not been recorded nesting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or in Grenada in many years, and only four other colonies are known in the entire Lesser Antilles. This discovery, although remarkable, is not surprising given the lack of scientific investigations on offshore islands in the Grenadines. Fisherfolk had previously described nesting frigatebirds on the island, demonstrating the value of integrating local fisherfolk knowledge into research and conservation, as well as encouraging their participation in such efforts. Fisherfolk throughout these islands observe seabirds on a daily basis – often using them to find fish, navigate and understand weather patterns – and as such have acquired detailed knowledge of seabirds.
2019 SVG Petit Canouan sign– EPIC Project Assistant Vaughn Thomas was part of the team that installed this informational sign on Petit Canouan, where tens of thousands of seabirds nest.
Through continued funding support from USAID, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and individual donations, EPIC will continue its seabird conservation efforts in the Grenadines in 2020. Formation of a transboundary seabird working group will allow for members from each island throughout both nations representing various sectors, such as government, NGO, fisherfolk and tour operators, to contribute their expertise towards developing solutions. If you are interested in becoming involved or have further questions relating to the project please contact Project Coordinator Juliana Coffey at [email protected], (473) 422-9547, or on WhatsApp at (709) 770-6877.
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