From as early as 1981, the Government of Barbados established two marine conservation areas: the Folkestone Marine Protected Area on the island’s west coast, and the Carlisle Bay Marine Park, close to Bridgetown.

Our coastal and marine capital support several livelihood, cultural and recreational activities. It also provides critical ecosystem services, including sand for our beaches, and shoreline protection against strong swells and other high wave energy events.

The marine-protected areas allow for diving, snorkelling and other marine recreational activities as well as reef monitoring, coral transplantation, and regeneration research. Fishing in marine-protected areas is expressly prohibited. Marine research and innovation projects are often spearheaded by local dive shops and non-governmental research organisations.