Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 12 hrs ago
Bahamas Court Case Puts a Queen Conch Nursery Near a Planned Dock
Miami-based Yntegra Group plans to dredge part of North Bay, near East Sampson Cay in the Bahamas, for a service dock at the planned Rosewood Exuma resort.
Researchers found a high density of young queen conch at a nearby site in a 2019 survey.
Young conch spend much of their first year in seagrass, where they feed and shelter.
The species is listed as threatened in the United States.
Developers of two neighboring properties have asked the Bahamas Supreme Court to overturn the project’s environmental approvals, arguing that consultation and assessment were inadequate.
The court is considering whether the government approved the project lawfully, not whether the dock will harm conch.
A judge has barred dredging and other work in North Bay until the case is decided.
A spokesperson for the challengers said a decision is expected within weeks.
A Bahamas Supreme Court case challenges environmental approvals for a planned service dock in North Bay, near a site where researchers recorded a high density of juvenile queen conch.
Miami-based Yntegra Group plans to dredge about half a hectare of the bay for the dock at Rosewood Exuma.
Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and the private island Over Yonder Cay are asking the court to overturn the approvals, arguing that public consultation and environmental assessment were inadequate.
Yntegra says the cay’s southern end cannot support a service area, while the environmental agency’s director called North Bay the most feasible option.
A judge has barred dredging and other works in North Bay until the case is decided; the court will consider whether the project was lawfully approved, not whether the dock harms conch.
- Who
- Yntegra Group plans the dock. Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and Over Yonder Cay are challenging its environmental approvals.
- What
- A proposed service dock would require dredging about half a hectare of North Bay.
- When
- The judge has not yet ruled; a Save Exuma Alliance spokesperson said a decision is expected within weeks.
- Where
- North Bay, just south of East Sampson Cay in the Exumas, Bahamas.
- Why
- The challengers say public consultation and environmental assessment were inadequate. Yntegra says the cay’s southern end cannot support a service area.
Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and Over Yonder Cay
Yntegra Group
Dock location
Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and Over Yonder Cay
The service dock could be placed in a southern marina without additional dredging.
Yntegra Group
The cay’s southern end cannot support a service area, and North Bay is the most feasible option according to the environmental agency director.
Environmental approvals
Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and Over Yonder Cay
The challengers argue the public was consulted before key documents were released and the project’s combined effects were not assessed together.
Yntegra Group
Yntegra is proceeding under environmental approvals that the challengers are asking the court to overturn.
They don’t need to dredge at all
without any additional dredge footprint
Shedd Aquarium researchers recorded the third-highest mean density of juvenile conch among surveyed sites just south of East Sampson Cay.
After a monitoring report, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection issued a cease-and-desist order over land clearing for soil testing.
Justice Leif Farquharson barred dredging and other works in North Bay until the case is decided and ordered Turtlegrass to post $3 million in security.
Videos on social media showed a sediment plume spreading from barge deliveries to the cay.
- Planned dredging
- About half a hectare (1.26 acres)
- Project
- Service dock for Rosewood Exuma
- Developer
- Miami-based Yntegra Group
- Conch survey
- Third-highest mean density of juvenile conch among surveyed sites, recorded in 2019
- Court security order
- $3 million
- Location
- North Bay, Exumas, Bahamas
Sources
Related news
Researchers map hair-like sensory cells across squid bodies
Bellbird and Seriema Among the Loudest Birds Measured
Survey finds only 83 mature cheetahs across a vast area of South Africa
British Columbia rogue wave was nearly three times taller than nearby waves
Detached sea cucumber tissue remained active for more than three years
New book examines the survival skills of 75 fierce forms of nature
Air pollution reaches ‘very poor’ levels in towns near Manaus
Young Puerto Rican parrot rescued from invasive boa
Warm, mostly sunny weather forecast across the Netherlands this week
Researchers confirm a new giant waterlily species in Colombia
Amazonas fires rise 271% in the first 10 days of October
