NASSAU, BAHAMAS, April 16, 2012 – The social and economic value of the Bahamian coastline cannot be overemphasized, said the National Coastal Awareness Committee, which is encouraging Bahamians to commemorate its tenth anniversary by participating in a Fun, Run, Walk on April 28.
April marks Coastal Awareness Month on the national calendar, and the committee hopes to “invoke a deeper appreciation” for the coastline by drawing greater attention to the many ways in which Bahamians coexist with the coastal ecosystem. The April 28 Fun, Run, Walk, for a healthy coastline and a healthy waistline, is the committee’s signature April event for its tenth anniversary commemoration.
“Our coastal eco-system defines who we are as a nation. Health wise we are connected to our coast and marine life through recreation and what we eat. We have to understand the main threats to the coast that impede our quality of life in order to appreciate it. It is only when we can place a greater value on our coastal eco-system we can begin to take more pride in selling ourselves as a touristic destination,” said Earlston McPhee, Chairman of the National Coastal Awareness Committee (NCAC) and Director of Sustainable Development for the Ministry of Tourism.
The event will take place against the backdrop of the country’s stunning shoreline, from Arawak Cay to Goodman’s Bay and back, with an alternative route from Arawak Cay to Skyline Drive and back. Participants will have the opportunity to survey the natural beauty of the coastline and learn more about various coastal threats and important preservation strategies through a question and answer experience along the route.
“Our goal is to get people to come out and enjoy the coast. We want to invoke a deeper appreciation for its social and economic value and allow participants to understand what it means to have a healthy coastal eco-system. The Fun, Run, Walk is a great way to show a direct link from understanding how critical it is to preserve our coastline in the preservation of the culture of life for The Bahamas as a touristic destination to how it directly affects us” said Mr McPhee.
Throughout the month of April, the NCAC has planned activities in New Providence and across the Family Islands to promote the following objectives: encouraging Bahamians to take a closer look at the coast and its intrinsic value on the sustainability of Bahamian life and educating the public on the importance of preserving a healthy coastal environment.
“For the past ten years, our Committee has continued to promote our core message throughout the islands of The Bahamas which is to create an awareness of the threats to our coastal environment and to educate them on solutions which will assist in sustaining our way of life for generations to come. We have organised clean-up campaigns in several major islands, held school competitions to educate our kids to get them to start thinking now of ways in which we can preserve our resources and prevent further ruin to our shoreline,” said Mr McPhee. “This year the committee wanted to get people to really see the coast and take in the beauty of what we have here in our islands in hope that we will realize how important it is to protect our home as coastal people.”
The walk will begin at 6:00 am, with registration at 5:30 am. Event organizer Adrianna Hutchinson encourages all persons to register now, by contacting the Bahamas National Coastal Awareness Committee at 362-5558, on Facebook or through Janel Campbell at 356-6941. A number of prizes will be given out at the event, and food items will also be on sale.
The 2012 Coastal Awareness Committee includes members from the following organizations: Ministry of Tourism; Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST); Bahamas Hotel Association; Bahamas National Trust; Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF); Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas; College of The Bahamas; Department of Environmental Health Services; Department of Marine Resources; Dive Stuart Cove; Dolphin Encounters Ltd.; The Nature Conservancy; Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Port Department; The College of The Bahamas; The University of The West Indies.
For more information on National Coastal Awareness month, visit The Bahamas National Coastal Awareness Committee on Facebook and click “LIKE”, or to become a sponsor please contact Earlston McPhee at 356-6963/67/38.
