By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

MORE than a year after a tugboat and barge ran aground on a fragile reef in the protected Fowl Cays National Park, government officials remain silent on the stalled removal effort — despite repeated requests for answers.

Acting Port Controller Lieutenant Commander Berne Wright initially responded to an inquiry, but failed to follow up, while calls and texts to Environment Minister Vaughn Miller and Environmental Protection Director Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy went unanswered.

State Environment Minister of State Zane Lightbourne told The Tribune he would refer the matter to Mr Miller because it came under his portfolio.

The vessels ran aground in late March 2024, causing significant damage to the coral reef in the marine park, which is managed by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). Despite multiple attempts to remove the wrecks, the vessels continue to shift during storms, further destroying critically endangered coral and frustrating conservationists and locals.

The wreck site has been plagued by debris, including twisted metal, broken coral, and spilled cargo such as pea rock and sand, burying essential reef-building species. Dr Charlotte Dunn, a volunteer diver with the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation, described the ongoing damage in a recent statement, saying: “Every time the tug shifts in heavy swells, it scrapes away more of the reef. We’ll dive back down and find broken coral colonies, half-buried gorgonians, and fresh rubble. It’s heartbreaking to watch the corals get pounded over and over.” 

David Knowles, chief park warden for BNT, confirmed that the repeated groundings have intensified the damage.

In a joint statement released earlier last week by Bahamas National Trust (BNT), the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO), and Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS) called for urgent action and expressed frustration at the lack of progress.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the lack of enforcement and accountability, citing existing laws that empower authorities to act. Denise Mizell, the PIMS Abaco programme manager, highlighted the legal and financial challenges, pointing out that non-profit organisations are struggling to mitigate the damage without cooperation from the vessel owner’s insurance.

Olivia Patterson-Maura, executive director of Friends of the Environment, expressed frustration over the slow response, stating: “This is a national treasure, and it’s in all our interests to remove the wreck before more damage occurs.”

Last April, Dr Neely-Murphy said the owners would likely face penalties. However, she declined to provide details and said bad weather and other obstacles had delayed the recovery effort.

Environmental groups say stronger enforcement is possible under existing laws. They cited international conventions such as the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks and The Bahamas’ own Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019, both of which empower the government to act when vessel owners fail to do so.

“Owners must carry wreck removal insurance and face stiff penalties if they fail to remove a grounded vessel,” the groups said. “The Port Department can also coordinate with other agencies to order salvage operations or, in some cases, remove the vessel itself and bill the owner.”