Conch Partnership

Conch Partnership is sponsored by Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Blue Action Lab. A collaborative program offering Bahamian students hands-on environmental education focused on queen conch aquaculture and restoration, preparing them for future roles in marine conservation.

Conch Partnership | Florida Atlantic University Photo courtesy of Blue Action Lab FAU, Blue Action Lab, Waterkeepers Bahamas Launch Groundbreaking Conch Program to Empower Future Environmental Leaders Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU) and Blue Action Lab (BAL) have partnered to launch a new conch learning module for Waterkeepers Bahamas’ Cadet Program, made possible by a grant from the Moore Charitable Foundation.

This immersive capacity-building project offers Bahamian students hands-on environmental education, providing them with the tools and knowledge to contribute to vital conservation efforts. As part of the Waterkeepers program, all Cadets become open-water scuba certified, equipping them with the skills to explore and protect their marine environment.

Each year, the program challenges students to address pressing ecological issues, while fostering their passion to become future environmental advocates. The project is part of a larger effort led by FAU and BAL that aims to help restore queen conch populations through sustainable mariculture practices.

As the steep decline in conch resources continues, this effort is critical to helping to ensure the long-term viability of a species deeply embedded in Bahamian culture and ecology. Waterkeeper Cadets will play an active role in learning about these restoration efforts, while gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge conservation methods.

The program is open to senior high students (grades 10-12), typically ranging in age from 14 to 18. Cadets receive certificates and trophies in recognition of their achievements and commitment to environmental stewardship. This year, returning cadets are embarking on an in-depth study of the Queen Conch, an iconic species increasingly under threat in The Bahamas.

At the same time, new Cadets will focus on water quality assessments in vital ecosystems, particularly around mangroves and beaches. A highlight of the season is Waterkeepers’ exciting new partnership with the Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Center at Conservation Cove by Blue Action Lab.

Centered around queen conch aquaculture and restoration, the program combines hands-on and digital education, utilizing the facilities at the Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Center at Conservation Cove, which is funded by Builders Initiative, and FAU's newly-developed eConch , a 7-module online course on queen conch aquaculture.

This initiative offers high school students practical research experience and marine science education, preparing them for future academic and career opportunities in the blue economy. The students will present their research projects to the community at a Symposium on March 28th, 2025. The Cadets are chosen from students who have completed the Waterkeepers Bahamas Youth Environmental Ambassadors Program (YEA).

Every year, Waterkeepers Bahamas sends applications to all schools in Grand Bahama for distribution to students. For more information please contact: Marketing and Communications: To apply for future programs, contact: connect@waterkeepersbahamas. org Cadet Program Images for use.

Outdoor Images - Waterkeepers Cadet Program Field Trip, Grand Bahama. Indoor images: Blue Action Lab’s Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Center, at Conservation Cove. **Cadet Program Images for use** Blue Action was founded with the primary mission of driving climate solutions for low-lying coastal communities and their ocean ecosystems in response to the climate crisis.

Since then, Blue Action has grown into an internationally recognized company that accelerates mitigation and adaptation solutions for climate resilience.

This is achieved through investment in innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building via Blue Action Accelerator, a seed-stage venture capital platform dedicated to funding, testing, and commercializing transformative climate technologies, and Blue Action Lab, a non-profit organization focused on implementing climate-resilient technologies and ecosystem restoration projects.

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast and is ranked as a top public university by U.S. News and World Report.

FAU is an energetic and fast-growing institution, determined to propel itself to the forefront of innovation and scholarship. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Our students are bold, ambitious and ready to take on the world.

Waterkeepers Bahamas, a unique and leading force in environmental conservation and restoration in The Bahamas, is dedicated to safeguarding the country's water resources. Our mission is to ensure these resources are swimmable, fishable, and drinkable for generations. Our work spans a range of activities, from restoring vital ecosystems to educating and engaging the community in environmental stewardship.

www. waterkeepersbahamas. org The Moore Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation that works to protect natural resources and inspire future environmental stewards.

Moore Charitable and its affiliates partner with nonprofit organizations that preserve open land and healthy forests; ensure clean and abundant water; advance marine and marine species protections; and foster conservation and community stewardship, including environmental, educational and other local programs in our priority conservation and geographic areas and beyond.

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