What is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and why does it matter?

By Sail Abacos, Editorial Team

Reviewed by Captain Ronald Rolle

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park holds a unique place in conservation history. When the Bahamas National Trust established the park in 1958, it became the first land and sea park in the world, pioneering a model that marine reserves worldwide have since followed.

The park spans 176 square miles of the central Exuma chain, from Wax Cay Cut in the north to Conch Cut in the south. Within these boundaries, no fishing, shelling, or harvesting of any kind is permitted. This strict no-take policy has allowed marine ecosystems to recover to a state approaching what existed before human exploitation.

The results speak for themselves. Fish populations within the park are dramatically larger and more abundant than surrounding waters. Nassau grouper, once overfished throughout the Bahamas, reach impressive sizes here. Conch populations have rebounded. Coral health exceeds regional norms.

For visitors, the park offers exceptional snorkeling and diving. Thunderball Grotto, a limestone cave system made famous by the James Bond film, draws snorkelers at low tide to swim through shafts of sunlight amid swirling schools of fish. The park also protects pristine beaches, mangrove creeks, and the rare Bahamian hutia, a native mammal found only in remote cays.

Sailors cruise through the park regularly on Exumas itineraries, anchoring in protected harbors and exploring by dinghy. While fishing is prohibited, enjoying the underwater world through snorkeling and diving is encouraged. The park demonstrates that protection and recreation can coexist.

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