By The Bonefish and Tarpon Trust

For Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), every day is Earth Day. However, on April 22, the organisation recognised the passionate individuals working tirelessly to conserve the habitats that sustain the flats fishery and coastal ecosystems.

This year, in alignment with the international Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” BTT is highlighting the people-driven restoration and education efforts ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for The Bahamas’ flats fishery.

Ebbie David “Bonefish Ebbie”, a veteran flats guide from Bimini, community leader, and long-time friend of BTT, said: “As guides, our knowledge and the skills we’ve mastered over generations will remain the driving force behind the continued growth and sustainability of the flats fisheries industry in The Bahamas. We are the bridge connecting the wisdom of the past with the realities of the present and the promise of the future, which is why I have worked with my son, Showndre, and I am proud of the person he has become. We know these flats because we have walked them, fished them, and witnessed their changing cycles firsthand. Our collective voices matter, guides and organisations like BTT must be included in the conversations and decisions that shape the future of this industry and the delicate ecosystems that support it.”

Justin Lewis, BTT’s Bahamas research manager, said: “Our conservation efforts are driven by science, and we are lucky to engage the experience and expertise of flats guides across the country in our research and mangrove and creek restoration work. This year, we are especially excited to continue to work with guides to locate bonefish spawning sites, and we are integrating our science work with our policy team to advocate to protect these critical areas.”

Rashema Ingraham, BTT Caribbean programme director, said: “BTT is working with stakeholders to integrate bonefish and mangrove data into a multispecies fisheries policy. Science should inform policy, and that’s what we’re doing. All of BTT’s work in The Bahamas seeks to empower individuals, communities, fishing guides, and even government officials to work together to embrace Our Power, for Our Planet.”

Nina Sanchez, BTT’s Bahamas education coordinator, said: “Our education programs connect students across The Bahamas to their marine environment. Teaching students about mangroves and bonefish in an interactive way enhances their understanding of nature and nurtures a sense of responsibility to protect it. Beyond that, we do mangrove plantings and create educational opportunities at the community level to highlight the importance of healthy ecosystems to the Bahamian economy and culture and get our fellow Bahamians involved in protecting and restoring these precious resources on a personal level.”

In 2024, BTT reached over 500 students at more than 20 schools across the country and organisations through summer camps, classroom visits, and teacher workshops and has plans to expand this work throughout 2025. The program bridges education gaps, promotes best practices like proper fish handling amongst anglers and guides, and inspires the next generation of conservation leaders.

Joel Moxey, Flats Fishing industry development consultant with the Ministry of Tourism, said: “The flats fishery is more than an ecological treasure; it supports a high-value tourism industry and thousands of livelihoods. When visitors come to fish the flats, they’re investing in our environment and our economy. Restoring mangroves and protecting bonefish habitats isn’t just good conservationism, it’s good business. I am glad to be working with BTT, who will come on as a conservation partner for the Ministry’s upcoming Bahamas Bonefish Tournament Series, kicking off this July.”