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Save Bimini

Action to stop a tourist resort in the Bahamas

Tourism Concern has joined with local and international groups to try and halt the development of a mega-resort on the island of Bimini. A Miami-based developer is building the Bimini Bay Resort and Marina - to be managed by part of the Hilton Group - against the wishes of local people. The developer pushed ahead with the project before plans for a Bimini Marine Protected Area (MPA) were put in place. This has already involved destroying various pristine habitats, threatening the livelihoods of local fishermen. Further planned developments will lead to greater destruction of protective mangrove lagoons and seagrass beds which support lobster, conch, turtles and many species of fish.

Protests to stop Bimini tourist resort

The multimillion dollar Bimini Bay Resort is threatening both local communities and their environment. Phase I of the project is now completed and includes a marina and numerous condos. The development has outraged local community members, who staged protests outside the resort in an attempt to stop its construction.

Capo Group, the Miami-based developer, has promised, amongst other things, a primary school, fire truck and that the project would be friendly to the environment. They also promised that the development would provide jobs for local people. But many of these promises have failed to materialise:

• Mangroves have been bulldozed, land has been carved up, the seafloor dug and destroyed and the North Bimini lagoon has been silted with dredge effluent.
• The destruction of fertile breeding grounds have resulted in a decrease in conch and fish numbers, threatening the livelihood of local people.
• Water supplies are being used for the tourism development, causing water to local communities to be frequently turned off.
• Locals were promised jobs during the construction and running of the resort, but cheap labour continues to be drafted in from abroad

The devastating impact of the 2004 Asian tsunami illustrated that mangroves are the best defence there is when hurricanes and tidal waves strike. The Bahamian Government’s decision to permit a developer to destroy Bimini island's protective mangroves and replace it with a tourist resort could put the security of the island in jeopardy. The habitats of many endangered species of marine life, including of dolphins, turtles and sharks, are seriously threatened. Local Biminites, fishermen, Bahamian environmental organisations, and the international scientific community are desperately fighting to protect the ecosystems of this island from tourism.

Phase II on hold?

In January 2009, the Bahamian Government announced that it would establish an MPA in the north of the island. This could put a halt to the golf course, planned under Phase II of the development, because part of the course would fall inside the MPA boundary. If built, the golf course would require further mangroves to be destroyed and cause pesticides to leach into the fragile marine environment. The MPA entails strict environmental safeguards, which should prevent the golf course from being approved. The plan will support local livelihoods by allowing some traditional fishing within the area. A final decision will be taken following completion of an independent environmental impact assessment.

Save Bimini - Get involved!

Phase 1 of the development is complete, destroying mangroves and large areas of Bimini's pristine habitat and coastline.

Phases 2 and 3, which include additional condos and a golf course, are pending the outcome of an environmental impact assessment.

Please help keep the pressure up on the Bahamian Government to fully implement the MPA and protect Bimini from any further developments. Write to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas asking him to stop the Bimini Bay Resort development. A sample letter is available on this page.