Bahamas News
PIMS and BLUEQUEST Partner to Open New Coral Nursery in Nassau
May 2, 2025—NASSAU | A vibrant new coral nursery has taken root just offshore from Nassau, creating an exciting opportunity for Bahamians and visitors to engage with marine conservation through immersive ecotourism. Born from a dynamic partnership between Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and BLUEQUEST Bahamas, this nursery utilizes advanced micro-fragmentation techniques, enabling coral fragments to grow up to 40 times faster than natural rates.
Led by dedicated Reef Rescue Network (RRN) specialists Anwar Godet and Alex Frans, alongside BLUEQUEST founder Allison Longley, over 250 vibrant micro-fragments of endangered reef-building corals—including elkhorn and staghorn—have been carefully sourced from nearby reefs and successfully placed into the nursery.
Longley, who has dedicated her career to educating others about the importance of marine conservation says,”Sharing my passion for the ocean has been a dream come true. Connecting people through memorable snorkeling experiences and inspiring action to protect our coral reefs is incredibly rewarding.”
In addition to nurturing coral fragments, the nursery features two reef balls. These concrete structures are now home to “corals of
opportunity,” or corals that might not otherwise survive where they are living. They attract juvenile fish, enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience. Beneath the waves, visitors can witness young coral colonies forming, teeming with colorful fish and marine life—a reminder of the potential of artificial reefs. More than just a conservation initiative, this project also introduces the interactive “Reef Rescue Snorkel Experience,” enabling participants to snorkel directly above the coral nursery. Guided by BLUEQUEST marine experts, snorkelers learn firsthand about coral species, reef ecosystems, and restoration techniques, empowering them to become ocean advocates.
“This project is about bringing people together, educating them, and inspiring them to care about coral reefs,” says Alex Frans, RRN coral restoration specialist. “When people see for themselves how incredible and important coral reefs are, they become passionate about protecting them.”
Coral reefs around the world are facing significant threats; in The Bahamas, they are particularly vulnerable to climate change, pollution,
and overfishing. Globally, healthy coral reefs support up to 25% of marine biodiversity, support food and livelihoods for 1 billion people, and protect coastlines from storms. With coral cover declining by more than 50% in recent decades, initiatives like this new nursery are essential for reversing these losses and restoring marine ecosystems.
This nursery joins more than 50 others within the Reef Rescue Network, the Caribbean’s largest coral restoration initiative, which has successfully planted over 10,000 nursery-reared corals throughout The Bahamas alone. By integrating ecotourism with scientific conservation, PIMS and BLUEQUEST foster environmental stewardship and provide direct economic benefits to local communities.
Ready to dive in? Book your Reef Rescue Snorkel Experience through @bluequestbahamas or https://live.vcita.com/site/bluequest and become part of the coral restoration story.
Photo Captions:
1st insert: The team behind Nassau’s newest coral nursery! From left to right: Anwar Godet (PIMS), Allison Longley (BLUEQUEST), and Alex Frans (PIMS) are leading the charge in coral reef restoration and community education.
2nd insert: A close-up look at the coral dome nursery, bustling with coral fragments poised for reef restoration after they grow big enough to be planted onto the nearby reef.
3rd insert: Underwater innovation at its best—coral dome nurseries provide ideal environments for accelerated coral growth.
4th insert: Reef Balls are cement-based structures that attract juvenile fish and encourage coral settlement and growth.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
