From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Community
BNT Welcomes new ECLSP Management Team
By Lynn Gape
Jan 8, 2018 - 1:35:33 PM


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The Bahamas National Trust is pleased to announce its recent hire of the team of Captain Joseph Ierna Jr. and Nicola Ierna as the Park Administrator and part time Administrative assistant at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Within this role, Captain Ierna will be responsible for overall supervision and oversight of all activities that occur in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP). Nicola will provide support for the office manager and park administrator.

“We believe in the work of the BNT and the importance of the ECLSP as The Bahamas’ first Marine No-take area. The BNT and partners nationwide are working to create and implement a well-managed marine protected area system. Ierna said. “Both Nicola and I believe that the ECLSP can demonstrate how sustainable finance mechanisms can support the protection of the Bahamas natural resources and we are excited to participate in elevating the management of the ECLSP so that it becomes a model not just for The Bahamas but for the region.”

Captain Ierna comes to the BNT with extensive knowledge of shipbuilding and design having worked in the Yacht Industry for 39 years. He is a committed marine conservationist having founded Ocean Crest Alliance (OCA), a non-profit organization working in marine and land conservation in the Bahamas and Florida. Nicola Ierna, worked in the banking industry (Scotiabank, Long Island) for 17 years and is also a Director of OCA.

“The BNT is very excited to have this well qualified and dynamic team at the helm of the ECLSP.  The park is one of our most highly visited parks and we are in the process of upgrading the park facilities, implementing new technology to help with enforcement and initiating some exciting new projects for the park.  We feel that Joe and Nicola bring an exciting new energy and important skills to assist in making this national park in The Bahamas a true model for marine parks across the region.” Commented Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director.

The BNT is a non-governmental, non-profit, membership organisation working to protect Bahamian natural resources by building a network of national parks and promoting environmental stewardship. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park was the first National Park in The Bahamas and was the first designated as the first “No Take” Marine Reserve in the wider Caribbean in 1986.




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