Efforts to revitalise the Bahamian sponging industry are moving into the full implementation phase through an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) sponsored project.

"We have planted seeds in most of the islands where sponging happens, and equipped spongers with the expertise to bring this industry back," said the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) senior deputy general manager, Debbie Strachan.

"Andros now has a processing plant and we have met with spongers on Andros, Long Island, Abaco and other islands to pledge our support."

The project, which has a $1.1m price tag, was designed to increase income for spongers by providing them with a larger share of the revenue from this industry.

A major component of the project is the formation of the Bahamas Commercial Spongers Association (BSCA) to centralise the processing of the sponge, and help link spongers with international markets directly. One aspect of increasing local revenue for local spongers was adding value for the spongers on the front line on the various islands.

The project to revitalise the industry is sponsored by the IDB and the Government, and managed by BAIC along with support from IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), the Bahamas National Trust, the Department of Marine Resources and BCSA board members.

When project managers met on Abaco, the spongers there expressed concerns over supply chain issues but were ready to move forward with developing the industry.

"On Abaco, those spongers said they didn't want to get stuck with a shed full of sponge with no supplier," Ms Strachan added. "With us having the processing plant and the expertise in Mangrove Cay, Andros, solves that problem for them and the rest of the spongers concerned about this problem.

"Spongers not only get to have their sponge processed there but also can add even more value by packaging for final sale. This cuts out all of the middle men and gets full value to the spongers."