Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS)

🎁On the 10th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 10 Bahamian Islands Surveyed & Studied!🔍 It’s been a busy year island hopping in the name of marine conservation! All across The Bahamas we have partnered with local experts and fishers marrying island fishing traditions and scientific research in hope of saving our seas! Across The Bahamas’ chain of 700 islands and cays are valued ocean resources like seafood, sponges, and seagrasses that all need to be monitored and assessed. ✨With our communities help, we were able to: ✅Complete mangrove fish surveys in Grand Bahama & Abaco ✅Lead marine rapid ecological assessment of coral reefs and seagrasses around Little Inagua ✅Complete mangrove fish surveys in New Providence & Eleuthera ✅Complete assessments for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 2020 project for Bonefish ✅Pond National Park, Lucayan National Park, Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, Exuma Cays ✅Land & Sea Park & Westside Andros National Park ✅Assess queen conch and sea cucumber across 6 islands. At PIMS, we value the insights and expertise of fishers and are proud to celebrate fisher-scientist collaboration. We would like to give special thanks to our community of fishers who share their knowledge and support our research as we work together to preserve and protect Bahamian waters. Our fisheries research helps inform sustainable fisheries management practices and implement new rules and laws in The Bahamas, ensuring that the marine life we treasure are protected for future generations. 💻 Learn more about our fisheries research across The Bahamas🇧🇸 Visit 👉 https://lnkd.in/gyMA-8V4 #12DaysOfChristmas #Fisheries #Fishing #Conservation #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 9th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me.. Up To A 95% Success Rate for Treating SCTLD! 🪸 This year we are grateful to celebrate the progress we’ve made protecting our reefs. 2024 brought with it many advancements in our fight against the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). With remarkable progress made in SCTLD monitoring, treatment, and partner training, we are thrilled to report a 70-95% success rate for corals treated with antibiotics!💪 Since 2014, SCTLD has spread from Florida to over 30 countries across the Caribbean, infecting 34 species of stony corals–our major reef-building corals. Caribbean countries thrive off the treasured bounties our ocean provides– food and fisheries, medicine, tourist attractions, and more. For many, the ocean is a livelihood and a lifestyle, and we must protect it in order to protect our communities. With over 8,000 corals treated for SCTLD in The Bahamas and Colombia, PIMS is fighting against all odds to protect our coral reefs! This success story could not be written without the continued support of local communities. None of this would be possible without YOU! From reporting disease sightings to donating and spreading awareness, your efforts are helping us protect the reefs that sustain us all. 💻 Learn More & Join the Fight: Visit 👉 https://lnkd.in/gFxUmuea #12DaysofChristmas #SCTLD #StopTheSpread #Caribbean #Colombia #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 8th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 8 Rising Tiders Filled with Glee!🤩 Our 2024 summer students joined us on an unforgettable journey beneath the waves! Launched in 2022, our Rising Tides Youth Program was designed to expose highschool students to the hard work that goes into becoming a skilled marine scientist💪Inspired to take on the task, 8 students used this opportunity to dive into the underwater world, and took with them skills that will last a lifetime. ✨ This year, our Rising Tides students earned: 🔹 5 Open Water Divers 🔹 4 Reef Rescue Divers 🔹 2 Advanced Open Water Divers At PIMS, we see inspiration and empowerment as gifts that keep on giving. Many of our students agree the highlight of the program was earning their PADI dive certifications, a lifelong achievement that opens so many doors to future academic successes and career opportunities. Armed with their newfound diving skills, our students explored the fascinating world of coral restoration, sharpened their species identification skills, and learned how fun it is to dive into marine conservation. Relive the magic of the summer. Watch our Rising Tides 2024 Recap Video and see the impact of this incredible program: https://lnkd.in/grCQFVN7 #12DaysOfChristmas #CoralRestoration #ReefRescueNetwork #PerryInstitute

🍽️🎄Now that you are planning your Christmas and New Year's Eve feasts, you have the opportunity to make a difference for the big blue by choosing an ocean-friendly festive menu. 🐠💪🏽Contribute to the recovery of a critically endangered species, like the Nassau grouper. Let them off the hook and your holiday menus! 🚨The Nassau (and the red hind) are aggregated to spawn right now. Respect their reproduction. The coral reefs and the livelihoods that depend on these fisheries will thank you --and so will we. #RecoverBigFish #NassauGrouper #CriticallyEndangered #SustainableSeafood

🎁On the 7th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me... 7 Summer Interns! As 2024 comes to an end, we are so proud to celebrate all who joined us on our journey. This year, we welcomed 7 summer interns to work within various PIMS programs, and this ambitious collective deserves our cheers for happily dedicating their summer breaks to making a difference with us! At PIMS, community is at the core of everything we do. With the steadfast support of our local communities, we work to protect and restore our ocean. In turn, our internship program is our way of giving back to our community in meaningful ways. ✨Thanks to your support, our interns achieved incredible things this year: 🐟 Gadville McDonald, our Fisheries intern, honed his digital media skills by creating sea cucumber social media content. 🌿Charissa Taylor, our CCEA intern, travelled to North Andros to investigate the impact of blocked creeks on local fishers. ♻️Andria Conliffe, another CCEA intern, dove into marine education, exploring how different tools and resources like educational posters, social media, and environmental activities can be used to give insight and promote awareness of conservation for young Bahamians. 🪸Delaney Mizell and Haley Bethell, our Abaco coral and mangrove interns, made waves with their hands on approach to coral nursery building and mangrove propagule collection. 🌱Kaitlyn Gaitor and Thejon Edgecombe, our Abaco mangrove interns, put community engagement and teamwork to work as they collected, grew, and planted hundreds of mangroves across Abaco– making huge contributions to our goal of planting 100,000 mangroves in 2024! 🌊 Why does this matter? These internships are more than summer jobs – they’re a launchpad for Bahamian students to become future leaders in marine conservation. Whether monitoring coral reefs, restoring mangroves, or safeguarding fisheries, these young people are taking action to secure the future of our ocean and our islands. ✨ Join the next wave of ocean leaders. Are you a young Bahamian (tertiary student or early-career professional) passionate about social science and the environment? Or do you know someone who is? 👉 Apply now for our 2025 internship program: https://lnkd.in/g5NAZe_k #12DaysOfChristmas #Conservation #Internship #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 6th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 60 Bahamians Certified in Diving🤿 This holiday season, we’re celebrating something truly special: the incredible journey of 60 Bahamians who earned their PADI dive certifications this year, thanks to the unwavering support of our donors and partners. At PIMS, we believe in empowering people to protect the ocean we all love. Through our Community Conservation, Education & Action (CCEA) program, our dedicated dive trainers at the Reef Rescue Network and the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub at Cape Eleuthera Institute, and continuous support from the Disney Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy, we’re building the next generation of ocean champions. ✨ This year, your generosity helped us achieve: 🔹 56 Open Water Divers 🔹 54 Advanced Open Water Divers 🔹 48 Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response, and Oxygen Providers 🔹 30 Reef Rescue Divers From high schoolers enrolled in our Rising Tides field school, to local Eleutherians and Bahamian government officials, these newly certified divers are already making waves. They’re equipped to tackle urgent conservation efforts like reef health assessments and coral restoration – vital tools in the fight against coral bleaching and the devastating Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) Visit our website to learn how you can be a part of the next wave of ocean conservationists https://lnkd.in/g6h2JX_A #12DaysofChristmas #PADI #RestoreCorals #DiversBahamas #OceanExplorers

🎁On the 5th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me... 50 Coral Nurseries in the Sea🪸 At the heart of our Reef Rescue Network is a mission to rehabilitate coral reefs through science-driven coral restoration efforts. Throughout the Caribbean, we’ve established coral nurseries designed to accelerate growth and help reefs recover from damage and disease. Today, the Reef Rescue Network is made up of 50 coral nursery locations across The Bahamas, Aruba, and St. Lucia—an expansion that has greatly enhanced our ability to cultivate and restore coral populations. Today, our network spans three countries and 14 islands, making us the largest coral restoration coalition in the Caribbean. We would like to say thank you to our expansive network of partners, non-profits and for-profit businesses that have shared in our common goal of rehabilitating reef ecosystems, educating locals and visitors on ocean conservation, and promoting a healthy ocean💙 #12DaysOfChristmas #CoralRestoration #ReefRescueNetwork #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 4th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me... 4 New Coral Nurseries🪸 We are thrilled to announce the installation of four new coral nurseries across The Bahamas this year: Disney’s Lighthouse Point (Eleuthera), Spirit Nursery (New Providence), Sandals (New Providence), and The Cove (Eleuthera). These partnerships are shining examples of regenerative tourism and environmental stewardship in The Bahamas made possible through Reef Rescue Network’s Coral is Calling campaign. With five ocean experiences to choose from offered through a vast network of non-profit and for-profit businesses like dive shops, hotels, and more, ocean explorers have the opportunity to see our coral nurseries with their own eyes and learn why and how they should support coral restoration. We invite you to connect with nature and contribute to the future of coral reefs while enjoying the beauty of Bahamian waters. 🌴💙 Visit https://lnkd.in/g9KYktkr to learn more about our reef rescue experiences. #12DaysOfChristmas #CoralRestoration #ReefRescueNetwork #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 3rd Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… Over 3,000 Corals Restored to the Reef! 🪸 This year, our Reef Rescue Network took coral restoration to new heights (or should we say, new depths😉). Driven by a collective of 50 coral nurseries across the Caribbean, our team was able to grow, clip and plant 3,116 corals onto reefs. Our coral nurseries come in all shapes and sizes—domes, lines, tables, and trees—each housing hundreds of coral fragments carefully sourced from healthy donor colonies. By nurturing these fragments in more controlled conditions, safe from predators and competition on the reef, we accelerate their growth. Once they’ve grown strong and resilient, these corals are then planted onto vulnerable reefs, helping to heal damaged ecosystems and restore vital marine habitats. Our coral restoration efforts often focus on areas that have been damaged by marine vessels, storms and hurricanes, or have suffered tremendous coral loss from diseases like Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and coral bleaching. Our dedication to revitalizing and protecting coral reefs is driven by your continued support, and for that we thank you💙 #12DaysOfChristmas #Corals #CoralRestoration #OceanConservation #PerryInstitute

🎁 On the 2nd Day of Christmas, PIMS Gave to Me… TWO Hundred Fifty Thousand+ Mangroves! 🌱🌊 This year, we’re celebrating a monumental milestone achieved: over 250,000 mangroves planted across The Bahamas, in partnership with The Bahamas Mangrove Alliance (BMA)! Each seedling is a symbol of resilience, nurturing ecosystems battered by storms and climate impacts. With the help of local communities, bonefishing guides, and dedicated volunteers, these once-devastated landscapes are springing back to life—strengthening coasts, reviving fisheries, and restoring hope. At PIMS, we know every root matters. As these young mangroves take hold, they’ll protect shorelines from future storms, provide vital nurseries for marine life, and sequester carbon to combat climate change. This remarkable feat wouldn’t be possible without your support, and with each new propagule planted, we’re one step closer to a healthier, more vibrant future for The Bahamas. Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate our 12 Days of Christmas, spotlighting conservation wins that bring us closer to restoring ocean health for people and the planet. Learn more about our mangrove restoration efforts at: https://lnkd.in/dqyQ54MC #12DaysOfChristmas #MangroveRestoration #BahamasMangroves #PerryInstitute