From Bonefish & Tarpon Trust:
Freeport, Grand Bahama —Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), in partnership with the Bahamas Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs, has officially broken ground on the first of two major tidal creek restoration projects on Grand Bahama Island, launching an initiative to reconnect critical marine habitats that sustain one of the world’s most important flats fisheries.
“This initiative represents an important step forward in restoring critical habitats in The Bahamas at scale,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “Working in close collaboration with government partners and local stakeholders, we are building a model for science-based, community-supported restoration that can be replicated across the islands.”
The tidal creeks of The Bahamas support rich biodiversity, provide vital habitat for bonefish and many other species, and play a key role in mangrove regeneration by transporting seeds to surrounding areas. Healthy mangrove ecosystems, in turn, help protect shorelines and communities from storm surge and extreme weather—an increasingly urgent priority in the region.
Across The Bahamas, however, many creek systems have been significantly altered by roads, development, and obsolete causeways constructed decades ago for commercial logging operations. These barriers have effectively “dammed” tidal creeks, preventing fish passage and disrupting the natural exchange of water between the ocean and inland creeks and flats habitat.
The first project, now underway at West Gap Creek on Grand Bahama’s North Shore, will restore tidal flow by excavating channels in an old causeway. This work will be followed by a second project at Grand Bahama’s famed East End to remove the Snapper Island Causeway obstructing August Creek.
“The projects will restore natural flows, support mangrove regeneration, improve water quality, and allow fish to access flats habitat that has been cut off for many years,” said Rashema Ingraham, BTT Caribbean Program Director. “They will also help expand the fishing grounds for local bonefish guides and improve the overall health of The Bahamas’ renowned flats fishery.”
The Grand Bahama projects are the first large-scale tidal creek restorations undertaken through a formal public-private partnership in the country. Construction and restoration activities will continue through 2026, along with community engagement and environmental monitoring to ensure long-term success. As these projects are completed, BTT will continue to identify other significant creek systems on Grand Bahama and other islands to prioritize for restoration.
About Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit—the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. BTT pursues this mission through science-based conservation, education, and advocacy across Florida, The Bahamas, Belize and Mexico, as well as in coastal states from Texas to Virginia. Learn more at: www.BTT.org.