Ins & Outs of Grenada

42  UNDERWATER INS& Underwater Sculpture Park Photo courtesy Grenada Tourism Authority It’s impossible to visit Grenada without feeling the urge to put on a mask and peer below the turquoise waters, home to healthy reefs, thousands of species of fish and other marine creatures, and more than a dozen incredible shipwrecks. But with rising sea temperatures, overfishing, and pollution, how do we protect our precious coral reefs around our island gems? In 2013, Grenada made an environmental commitment that set the tone for the entire Caribbean. We were the first Small Island Developing State (SIDS) nation to commit to the goal of designating at least twenty per cent of our land and sea areas as national parks. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are varied, but share a mission to limit indiscriminate harvesting of reef fish, reduce the destructive practises of anchoring and pumping bilge, and even limit the use of harmful types of sunscreen. MPAs provide ecosystem protection, giving our coastal marine habitats the opportunity to recover and flourish by enforcing a “no touch, no take” policy within their boundaries and provide outdoor marine learning centres for students from primary school to university. Marine Parks of Grenada By Christine Finney Protecting Grenada’s Precious Underwater Ecosystems