Conservation update Spring 2022
Since Ken’s visits last year where we out planted 3,000 fragments of corals and conducted our first data collection trip, we wanted to give you an update for 2022.
We actually out planted 75% of our nursery, so we are waiting for our young Elkhorn corals to grow big enough on our trees to start planting again. In the meantime, our watersports team alongside some committed volunteers cleaned the nursery in January and February.
For the next few months, we’ll be focusing on maintenance in the nursery, and our out plants in and around Endeavour Bay, and out planting the remaining 25% of the larger fragments of coral.
If you are a certified SCUBA diver and would like to volunteer to assist the team, please contact Nakita at Nakita@mustique.vc. We’d love to have you join us as we’ll be in the water weekly as we continue to restore coral reefs around Mustique.
During Lady Anne Glenconner’s last visit to Mustique, she noted her favourite activity was snorkeling in front of the Cotton House, admiring the beautiful marine life as she swam by. Our Environmental Manager, Nakita had the pleasure of chatting with Lady Anne about what it was like on Mustique when she first arrived, and what the natural environment was like over 50 years ago. Here are a few snippets from that conversation…
“So I’ve always swam and always liked it very much. And of course, Mustique was absolute paradise. And of course, in those days, we used to go down to the lagoon, and wrap a towel around our hands, and snorkel and see the lobsters looking out of their holes. And then we used to pull them out. And that was very exciting. And then, of course, the reefs. Well, fantastic. I mean, below the Cotton House, and also just beyond Basil’s bar, if you go towards the lagoon, there must be a reef that was named after my mother. It’s called Lady Elizabeth reef. And the coral, of course, you know, sadly, it’s not always been the same, with all the wonderful fish.”
“There was a point when people were allowed to go and shoot on the reefs. And that eventually was stopped. Because we used to see all sorts of dolphins, and sharks that were quite small, nurse sharks and whales of course.”
“The one thing I was fascinated with, the year before last, which I wrote about in my book, Murder on Mustique, was the way that you are now growing coral. And what I really noticed when I went swimming before Christmas this year is how the reefs are improving. And many, many more fish. It’s coming back. When we first went to Mustique, you know, the animals and the birds and the fish and the coral, it was fantastic, I mean all the coral was different colors. But with what you’re doing it is coming back. Yes, and that is very exciting.”
