TAKING REFUGE
Mission on to rescue cay and possibly thousands of lives in Jamaica
AMANGROVE island that sits about two kilometres off Port Royal is virtually dead – overwhelmed by tonnes of garbage, and marine biologists are warning that if it is allowed to die, it will take with it the livelihood of fishers, as well as the natural protection long provided for lowlying communities such as Port Royal, Portmore and Portland Cottage.
A rescue mission is currently on to save the cay, and, possibly, lives, removing 300 bags of garbage a day.
AMANGROVE island that sits about two kilometres off Port Royal is virtually dead – overwhelmed by tons of garbage, and marine biologists are warning that if it is allowed to die, it will take with it the livelihood of fishers, as well as the natural protection long provided for low-lying communities such as Port Royal, Portmore and Portland Cottage.
A rescue mission is currently on to save the cay, and, possibly, lives, removing 300 bags of garbage a day.
“The plastics will eventually kill that mangrove island. The forest will die,” Mona Webber, professor of marine biology and director of the Centre for Marine Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, declared during conversation with The Gleaner yesterday.
She was speaking about Refuge Cay, one of the few completely isolated mangrove islands in the Port Royal mangroves of Kingston Harbour, where the accumulation of garbage – primarily plastics – over the years now threatens the survival of the numerous species of resident and migrant (over wintering) birds, which roost and nest in the canopy of the mangrove trees.
NO PLANT COVER
“There is no plant cover in the middle of the cay as all mangrove trees have died and this is thought to be due to reduced water flow and lack of tidal flushing caused by the pile-up of garbage near the water’s edge, especially on the north shore,” Webber explained.
However, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) has partnered with the UWI in a massive clean-up and rehabilitation of the cay.
The wetland also has the potential for ecotourism, with bird watchers being facilitated by mooring platforms and access around the cay, facilitated by fishers who would take tours to the area where persons can view a variety of birds, especially winter migrants.
To this end, KFTL has provided the UWI with funding to rehabilitate the forest on Refuge Cay and so save the island from eventual destruction.
The clean-up started on Monday, January 8 with 24 fishers, including three females and two fishers with canoes. It falls under the supervision of Paul Kisson, stationed at the Port Royal Marine Lab, and is managed by Webber and her team at the Centre for Marine Sciences.