Area:  total: 13,940 sq km  land: 10,070 sq km Coastline: 3,542 km Population: 283,705 (July 1999 est.) Source: CIA Worldfact Book (2000)

The Bahamas   Basic Data Contacts CSD Data Other Links Other Data Country Contacts Ministry of Tourism Address Link: Ministry of Finance & Planning P.O. Box N3017 Nassau, N.P. Bahamas Tel: (242) 327-1530 Fax: (242) 327-1618 (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)     OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from the Bahamas' submission to the 5th and 6th Sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: June 1998). For further information on the Bahamas' social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for The Bahamas at:   http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/bahamas/index.htm   The Bahamas ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1983. The Ministry of Finance and Planning is responsible for overall planning; the Department of Fisheries, for marine resources; the Department of Lands and Surveys and the Department of Agriculture, for wetlands; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has certain responsibilities for the Economic Zone; and the Departments of Lands and Surveys, Public Works and Port are all involved with aspects of coastal management. They are all members of the BEST Commission which is responsible for coordinating sustainable development activities. As a result of its geographic configuration, the protection of the ocean is of considerable importance to The Bahamas. The archipelago covers 100 sq. miles, 90% of which is water. The Bahamas has planned: (1) a national policy on oceans which will be integrated into the National Sustainable Development Plan; and (2) an integrated coastal area management programme. Precautionary measures have been taken with respect to marine and coastal activities. It is now official policy to require an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to any major activities or development projects. If developers are guilty of negative practices, permits to operate are revoked. The same applies to fishermen, and heavy fines are applicable to cruise ships and boat owners for failure to comply with the laws and regulations. Approximately 80% of The Bahamas is within five feet of current mean sea level. Thus rising sea levels, temperatures and the projected increase in the number and intensity of tropical cyclones are of concern. The loss of corals by bleaching and heat stress is also concern. These issues are being dealt with in the context of a GEF/OAS regional project on the Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC)--in which sea level rise and coral reefs are being monitored.  The Government has access to technologies that serve to identify the major types of pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources. There are data bases used by the Department of Fisheries and the College of the Bahamas for integrated coastal management and information purposes. A Biodiversity Data Management database is being developed by the BEST Commission with GEF/UNEP assistance. The Government has rated the existing data bases adequate, and they cover the following: resources, cultural and socio-economic characteristics, activities, uses, habitats, protected areas, coral reef ecosystems, wetlands including mangroves, sea grass beds and other spawning and nursery areas. The Bahamas has adopted a voluntary Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries which sets out principles and international standards of behavior for responsible practices with a view to ensuring the effective conservation, management and development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity. Commercial fishing within the 200 mile exclusive fishing zone is reserved for Bahamian nationals. With the ever increasing demand for certain species, a number of projects have been undertaken to sustainably optimize the yield, while not endangering future harvesting of crawfish, stone crab and conch fisheries. The dumping of sewage, garbage, and so forth, from cruise and cargo ships is an ongoing problem for The Bahamas. While discussions with such companies are frequent and heavy fines are imposed if marine waste is detected, policing 100,000 sq.mi. of water is virtually impossible. Therefore recommendation has been made for The Bahamas to become party to the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas when it is finalized. The Bahamas is currently honoring the provision of the Code of Conduct of Responsible Fisheries. It participates actively in the International Coral Reef Initiative, and other scientific activities of the Commonwealth Secretariat, OAS, UNESCO, UNEP, among others The Bahamas has undertaken climate change activities through the UNEP/GEF Caribbean Adaptation to Climate Change Project and the World Meteorological Organization. It is actively involved in activities under the Convention on Biological Diversity, including UNEP/GEF Biodiversity Country Study, the Biodiversity Data Management Project and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.   Other Links Caribbean Environmental Programme Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change     Other Data n.a.