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Bahamian Scientist and her Youth Coral Conservation Team featured in the Natural History Museum of London
By Nikita Shiel-Rolle
Apr 6, 2015 - 1:06:14 PM

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Nikita Shiel-Rolle monitoring coral reef health while SCUBA Diving in Cat Island.

Nassau, Bahamas - Bahamian Scientist and her Youth Coral Conservation team are featured in a major exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London. The exhibition, ‘Coral Reefs: Secret Cities of The Sea’ Includes 250 specimens from the Natural History Museum’s coral, fish and marine invertebrate collection. Included in this exhibit is a six-minute documentary about the coral conservation work that Ms. Nikita Shiel-Rolle, CEO and President of Young Marine Explorers has been conducting throughout The Bahamas. The documentary was filmed in New Providence and Cat Island with Young Marine Explorers members from C.V Bethel Senior High in Nassau and Arthurs Town High in Cat Island.

The London based film crew spent 10 days in The Bahamas in December 2014 working with Young Marine Explorers and capturing their story. In the documentary Ms. Shiel-Rolle describes the threats to coral reefs in The Bahamas, which include, unregulated development, poor waste management, and overfishing. It highlights Ms. Shiel-Rolle’s commitment to being part of the solution to one-day stop coral reef degradation in The Bahamas. Through her Zoological Society of London EDGE Fellowship Ms. Shiel-Rolle developed the Coral Conservation Team model and monitoring protocol.

The Young Marine Explores Coral Conservation Team trains youth in SCUBA diving, coral identification, and leadership. Coral Conservation Team members are developing the skills that will enable them to collect data on the health of coral reefs and identify local threats that could be harming the reefs.

Through her conservation work in the Bahamas Ms. Shiel-Rolle is working with Bahamian youth to ensure that nobody overlooks the value and vital role that coral reefs play in supporting the Bahamian economy and lifestyle.

Ms. Shiel-Rolle stated “It is easy for someone who has never seen a coral reef to think that they are just underwater rocks and not very important. Corals are animals, and coral reefs are important ecosystems that can be compared to underwater cities, where each creature plays a vital role. As Bahamians we need to make sure we have healthy coral reefs, because coral reefs contribute significantly to our economy and our health and wellbeing. “

Ms. Shiel-Rolle further added that “Ultimately I want to see a Bahamas where citizens have taken proactive steps to ensure the protection of our environment, especially coral reefs. I understand that in order for us to have a sustainable Bahamas we need to have an engaged society. This is why Young Marine Explorers places such a great emphasis on leadership development and capacity building in youth.”

Coral Reefs: ‘Secret Cities of the Sea’ will be at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London until September 13 2015.

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Nikita Shiel-Rolle and Cat Island YME Coral Conservation team members snorkeling on a patch reef.

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Cat island YME Coral Conservation Team Members Jurique and Jvon Russell preparing for a research SCUBA dive.

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Nassau YME Coral Conservation Team Members preparing data collection sheets while being filmed by National History Museusm of London documentary producer.

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YME Coral Conservation Team Members celebrate after a successful field session at Clifton Heritage National Park.



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