The ocean is critical to livelihoods and the island’s culture. The waters of Barbados are home to keystone species such as turtles and reef fish, which are under threat from climate change and tourism. Supporting communities here means protecting the marine life that sustains their tourism and fisheries, as well as the habitats on which it depends, such as mangroves and coral reefs.
The Barbados government has pledged to protect up to 30 per cent of its waters, funded through a pioneering debt-for nature swap in which a portion of Barbados debt was forgiven and reduced in exchange for ambitious commitments to marine conservation. In 2024, Blue Marine was invited to help develop the island’s first Marine Spatial Plan (MSP), a blueprint for the ocean’s future. This included the identification of priorities, the development of a baseline report on marine and coastal biodiversity, the provision of broader MSP guidance and support for natural capital accounting.
Working with environmental consultancy Eftec, Blue Marine led the creation of Barbados’s first natural, capital account which allows them to track the extent and condition of their marine environment and measure the value of the benefits received. Blue Marine supported a two day training workshop attended by government officials from fields including finance, economics, statistics, environment and development.
The MSP now comprises three protection scenarios, supported by the baseline technical report and the natural capital assessment). Blue Marine continues to work with government stakeholders to advise on the MSP options and ensure the plan is adopted.
Around 90 cetacean species have been identified globally, of which 33 are found in the Caribbean. To address a lack of data on the presence and diversity of those in Barbadian waters, Blue Marine recently supported a research expedition led by our local partner, the Caribbean Cetacean Society. The initiative surveyed cetaceans such as the melon headed whale, and identified species’ diversity, behaviour and threats through methods such as photo ID and acoustic monitoring. Results will support the MSP process and coastal management efforts.
The project also aimed to train local stakeholders from government agencies, academic institutions and civil society in the use of a standardised methodology for cetacean monitoring. The team was composed exclusively of Barbadian professionals, drawn from marine science and management, education and the public. Onboard training aimed to build local capacity, promote autonomy in data collection and analysis, and encourage the stronger integration of contributions from Barbados into regional conservation efforts.
This island cluster of the Dutch Caribbean hosts a huge variety of species, many of them unique. Local governments and conservation groups have made major marine protection commitments — and Blue Marine is supporting their delivery.
The fishing and tourism industries of the Caribbean nation depend on the good health of its rich coral reef and seagrass. Blue Marine is working with local partners to tackle the degradation that threatens them both.
Blue Marine Foundation has helped transform the isolated UK Overseas Territory of Ascension Island into a vast no-take zone where marine life proliferates.
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