Bahamas News

Hybrid Corals Could Hold the Key to Reef Restoration

Published

5 years ago

September 9, 2021

Bahamas-based research says there are many factors to consider

#TheBahamas, September 9, 2021 – With nearly 27 percent of the world’s coral reefs lost to destructive events and stressors, a newly released study suggests hybridization – a mesh of different species – could save one of the world’s most important and threatened marine ecosystems.

Research published in the journal, Frontiers in Marine Science, found a naturally occurring hybrid coral and its fragmented sections are more resilient and grow rapidly in comparison to its parental species. The study suggests restoration managers use the hybrid, commonly called fused staghorn coral, to outplant degraded reefs and increase the scale of coral nursery projects.

“Coral restoration research by the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and its partners demonstrates how we can bring back populations of critically endangered coral species in The Bahamas and help them adapt to their changing climate to prevent them from going extinct,” said Dr Craig Dahlgren, PIMS’ executive director who’s an expert in tropical marine ecosystems.

In the study, “Should Hybrids Be Used in Coral Nurseries?” PIMS identified hybrids’ untapped potential, alongside researchers from Florida’s Nova Southeastern University and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The study was conducted at three nurseries on Great Stirrup Cay in the Berry Islands from June 2018 to July 2019.

The problem with coral reef ecosystems lie in their decades long decline due to rising sea temperatures, increased disease prevalence, pollution, overfishing, climate change and the like. Finding ways of protecting these natural resources is critical to the continuity of life around the world.

That’s because coral reefs host a range of ecologically and commercially important marine species. They are essential nursery grounds for numerous fish and invertebrates. They protect coastlines from storm damage and support an extensive tourism industry for many island nations like The Bahamas.

To facilitate coral reef recovery and increase abundance and genetic diversity, many conservation organizations throughout the Caribbean create and maintain coral nurseries, sheltered areas for corals to grow faster away from the reef and predators. In this “coral gardening” method, nursery grown reefs are transferred to the ocean during large-scale restoration efforts. PIMS and its coral restoration branch, the Reef Rescue Network, manages 27 coral nurseries on islands in The Bahamas alone.

The study investigated factors that may influence growth and survival of threatened Caribbean coral species and their naturally occurring hybrid at the Reef Rescue Network’s Berry Islands’ nurseries in central Bahamas. One of the study’s main funders, Norwegian Cruise Line, maintains these private nurseries for conservation and research with Nova Southeastern University.

Researchers found nursery locations with optimal depth, moderate water flow, some light and a limited range of temperatures will likely lead to the most successful coral fragment survival and growth.

Of the initial 157 fragments, 66 (or 42 percent) survived to the end of the 13-month study period. For those that didn’t survive, most were lost at the beginning of the research, likely due to the shock of relocation.

The research was the first to examine differences in the survival and growth between the parents and the hybrid of Caribbean acroporid corals in a nursery setting, along with differences among coral fragment placed in the same locations.

“For coral species that are on the verge of extinction in The Bahamas, growing corals in nurseries is a viable means of preserving genetics, repopulating reefs with these species, and providing habitat to the abundance of life that depends on coral reefs,” said Dr Dahlgran who along with his staff helped to obtain permits for the project, assisted with scouting and setting up nursery sites, coral collections and transportation to the nurseries.

While the parental species have been in decline, the hybrid has persisted on many reefs in the Caribbean with equal or increased abundance, better survival, and equal or less susceptibility to disease and other environmental pressures.

Scientists are therefore convinced “the benefits of including fast-growing hybrid coral to quickly increase reef structure likely outweighs the potential long-term drawbacks.”

Nevertheless, there is at least one concern. Hybrids could potentially reduce genetic diversity since their quick growth and resilience might disrupt the natural order of things.

“Concerns about genetic swamping of the parental species on evolutionary scales must not outweigh the immediate ecological need for shallow coral reefs, particularly when the state of coral reefs is dire,” the report read.

Researchers believe coral species separated by habitat type and depth could help mitigate this potential problem. The study recommended, “outplanting A. prolifera to shallow back reef areas, A. palmata along reef crests, and A. cervicornis to deeper reef slopes.” Prolifera is the hybrid. Palmata is the critical endangered elkhorn coral and cervicornis is the staghorn coral; both of which are the hybrid’s parents.

The research also noted a major difference between parents and hybrid.

“The hybrid is likely to reach outplanting goals by quickly increasing coral biomass and reef structure, albeit the fused branches of the hybrid taxon may provide a different ecological service than the parental species,” the report read.

“For example, the structure of A. palmata serves as a place for larger fish and invertebrates to live and hide. In contrast, the hybrid’s fused branches are more compact, and may be more beneficial to the smaller fish and invertebrates.”

Photo Caption: New research published in the journal, Frontiers in Marine Science, was the first to examine differences in the survival and growth between the parents and the hybrid of Caribbean acroporid corals in a nursery setting. Pictured here is a closer look at the nursery line. The parent species, Acropora palmata (right middle), is ideal for larger fish and invertebrates to live and hide. In contrast, the hybrid’s more compact, fused branches (left) are better suited to smaller fish and invertebrates.

Photo courtesy of PIMS via Precision Media

Bahamas News

Monument Supports Hands for Hunger With Paradise Plates Debut

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ leading wine and spirits distributor, proudly supported Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger annual fundraiser with a flavorful offering of its newest product, Monument Beverage Co.

Monument, which launched this July and is available across six major islands, made its Paradise Plates debut. Guests enjoyed three bold flavors: Peach Passion, Ginger-Lime and Melon Fizz as they socialized throughout the evening.

Monument brand ambassadors engaged guests with knowledge on the ready-to-drink beverage’s unique taste and look. Many attendees were delighted to learn that Monument is 100% Bahamian-made and owned and enjoyed seeing the various national landmarks on the packaging.

The booth was adorned with vibrant brand colors, striped arches, tropical florals and a photo worthy backdrop featuring Monument cans filled with florals cascading down the wall.

At the end of the event, the entire Monument inventory had finished, making Monument’s Paradise Plates debut a huge success.

For more details on Caribbean Wines & Spirits, new products and specials, visit www.cwsbahamas.com today.

Bahamas News

Schweppes ‘the Art of Mixology’ Dazzles at Paradise Plates with Nemiroff Vodka

Published

3 days ago

October 13, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

NASSAU, Bahamas — Schweppes, in collaboration with Nemiroff Vodka dazzled guests with handcrafted cocktails during Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger’s annual fundraiser held at Atlantis’ Imperial Ballroom.

The evenings’ theme, 70’s: Paradise Disco, inspired bold and delicious sips from Schweppes and Nemiroff. The beautiful disco themed Schweppes booth, adorned with LED signs, lush greenery and hanging black and gold metallic orbs shined throughout the room.

Schweppes’ brand representatives and mixologists dressed in chic 70’s speakeasy attire engaged attendees throughout the night. Guests enjoyed receiving knowledge of each product and experiencing the vibrant energy of brand representatives.

Nemiroff Vodka, which is locally distributed by Caribbean Wines and Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor; offered a unique variety of vodkas which made the perfect blend with Schweppes. Guests enjoyed, Nemiroff’s Honey Pepper, De Luxe, Burning Pear, Wild Cranberry, and Bold Orange vodkas throughout the night.

Fan favorite cocktails of the night were: the Wild Cranberry Tonic and the Bold Orange Fizz.

Following a positive response at Paradise Plates, CWS is offering Nemiroff and Schweppes specials at local liquor stores for the entire month. With the purchase of any 1-liter Nemiroff vodka, enjoy a complimentary three-pack of Schweppes mixers, to recreate the magic of Schweppes and Nemiroff.

Cara Douglas-Adderley, Senior Marketing Director for Caribbean Bottling (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products and CWS shared the inspiration behind the Schweppes and Nemiroff promotion.

“We are thrilled to have paired Schweppes and Nemiroff for Paradise Plates this year, creating a premium cocktail experience for guests. After receiving such positive feedback, we wanted to extend that experience to consumers at home. Throughout October, consumers can visit their favorite watering hole, buy any 1-liter Nemiroff bottle and receive a free three-pack of Schweppes.”

Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to offer Schweppes, Coca-Cola’s premier mixer in collaboration with Caribbean Wines & Spirits and Nemiroff Vodka at Paradise Plates in support of Hands for Hunger’s mission.

For more information on CBC’s philanthropic work, new products and specials, visits www.cbcbahamas.com today.

Bahamas News

Two Months On, The Bahamas Academy of Sciences Turns Fifty Years of Research into Action

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

First peer-reviewed paper published, policy brief delivered to Minister Lightbourne, a seat at Climate Week, and a growing public audience for Bahamian science

NASSAU, The Bahamas, 7 October 2026 — Two months after putting fifty years of research on The Bahamas “on the record” at its first public event in July, The Bahamas Academy of Sciences (BAS) has been turning that evidence into action.

Since July, the Academy has published its first peer-reviewed paper, presented its findings to Government through a policy brief, taken Bahamian science to Climate Week in Nassau and New York, and launched a growing public conversation in which Bahamians can ask scientists questions and get answers. The Academy’s new policy brief, “Prioritising National Research Needs for The Bahamas,” is attached to this release.

“In July we said the record was open. Since then, we have been working to put it to use,” said BAS President Dr. Krista Sherman. “Fifty years of research revealed where The Bahamas is strong and where the gaps are: water, food, energy, long-term monitoring. Our job as the national academy is to share that evidence with the decision-makers and the public they serve, and to build the Bahamian research capacity to fill those gaps.”

THE RECORD, NOW PEER-REVIEWED AND PUBLIC

The Academy’s first publication, “Fifty Years of Research in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas: A Quantitative Thematic Analysis of Scholarly Output,” is now published in the international journal Gulf and Caribbean Research. Led by Dr. Amina Moss (University of Stirling) with BAS members Dr.

Krista Sherman, Dr. Williamson Gustave, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, Dr. Charlotte Dunn, Dr. Nicola Smith, Lindy Knowles and Dr. Christy Gibson, the study analyses 12,113 scholarly records published about The Bahamas between 1975 and 2025.

It shows a rich scientific legacy, particularly in geology, fisheries, oceanography and conservation, while also highlighting persistent gaps in areas of direct national importance: groundwater resources, food systems, renewable energy, social-ecological governance and locally led, long-term monitoring. The full paper is free to read at https://doi.org/10.18785/gcr.3701.15.

FROM THE RECORD TO POLICY

Building on this research, BAS has prepared a policy brief, “Prioritising National Research Needs for The Bahamas,” which translates the findings into a set of ten strategic priorities.

The policy brief calls for greater investment in locally led, policy-aligned and climate-ready research, including:

a national research agenda aligned with Vision 2040;
stronger local scientific capacity, laboratories and field stations;
rebuilt long-term monitoring of reefs, fisheries, coasts and mangroves;
targeted research on groundwater, food systems and renewable energy;
a national environmental and health data repository; and public health research on the risks facing small island states.

In September, Dr. Sherman presented the brief to the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, during a courtesy call. The visit is the first in a series of introductory meetings with Government ministries over the coming months. Through these meetings, the Academy will introduce its work and explore opportunities for collaboration in science, the environment, sustainability, conservation and climate resilience. The policy brief also maps research priorities to relevant national legislation and policies, from the Environmental Planning and Protection Act to the National Health Strategy 2026–2030.

BAHAMIAN SCIENCE AT CLIMATE WEEK, FROM NASSAU TO NEW YORK

BAS also brought Bahamian scientific expertise to Climate Week 2026.

On Monday, 21 September, BAS Board member Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, Professor Emerita at the University of Miami, presented “Coasts and Climate Change” at the opening day of Climate Week in The Bahamas, hosted by the Baha Mar Resort Foundation at ECCHO, under the theme “At the Edge of the Water.” Dr. Sullivan Sealey explained why The Bahamas’ low-lying carbonate islands face growing risk from sea-level rise and storms, and how historical losses of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves and dunes have weakened the islands’ natural defences. More importantly, she highlighted actions communities can take to reduce these risks.

During Climate Week, the Academy also released a science statement, “Climate Change and Ocean Warming Impacts on The Bahamas: What Does the Science Tell Us?”, a synthesis of the environmental, ecological, social and economic impacts facing the archipelago.

In New York, BAS Vice President Dr. Adelle Thomas, Vice-Chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), brought the realities of vulnerable small island states to Climate Week NYC.

A GROWING PUBLIC AUDIENCE FOR BAHAMIAN SCIENCE

The Academy’s public campaign, 242 #ForTheRecord, has also been building a presence across its five platforms since launching in mid-July. Its most successful format has been the simplest: Bahamians ask a question and a BAS scientist answers it. So far, the “You Ask/Science Responds” series has tackled questions on how climate change will affect Bahamian farming (Dr. Williamson Gustave) and the science of blue holes (Dr. Krista Sherman). An upcoming episode will examine the effects of high temperatures on public health. Question-led content is reaching roughly twice the audience of the Academy’s institutional posts. During its first month, the campaign generated more than 18,500 views and over 200 shares across its platforms.

To extend the conversations to more Bahamians, beyond the traditional science-curious audiences,

BAS has also formalised collaborations with two local content creators, Kaché Knowles (“I is a Bahamian Bey”) and Stephen Hanna (“Schin Nguyen”). Their first joint pieces will appear before the campaign closes on 30 November.

WHAT COMES NEXT

For BAS, putting the record to work is only the beginning. Over the coming months, the Academy will:

continue introductory meetings with Government ministries and agencies;
host its Future Scientists classroom event with Bahamian students in early November;
launch its YouTube channel with a video-podcast series on Bahamian scientists in November;
begin work on its second peer-reviewed publication, “A Horizon Scan on Emerging Environmental Issues in The Bahamas Over the Next Decade”; and
offer “Introduction to Statistics using Excel,” a short, practical course in early 2027 that will give early-career scientists and resource managers in The Bahamas hands-on skills in organising, analysing and summarising their own data.

“Research is most valuable when it can be used,” said Dr. Sherman. “The Bahamas has an extraordinary scientific record. Now we need to ensure that record informs the questions we ask, the decisions we make, and the science we build here at home.”

See BAS Climate Statement and BAS Policy Briefing 50 Years of Bahamian Research here: BAS Climate Statement,

BAS Policy Briefing_50 Years of Bahamian Research

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Header: BAS President Dr. Krista Sherman met the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources and his team on 17 September 2026. L–R: Mr. David Davis, Permanent Secretary; Mr. Ricardo Deveaux, Acting Under Secretary; The Hon. S. Obie Roberts, Parliamentary Secretary; Dr. Krista Sherman, BAS President; The Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister; Dr. Rhianna Neely-Murphy, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection; Ms. Danielle Hanek, Acting Director, Forestry Unit.

Credit: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Insert: Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, BAS Board member, presents the Academy’s science statement at Climate Week in The Bahamas, ECCHO, 21 September 2026.

Credit: Amaeleo Carey.

PRESS RELEASE: BAS