The Bahamas National Trust applauds the decision by Disney Cruise Lines to abandon their plans to develop Egg Island, off North Eleuthera.

“Balancing development and environmental concerns is a challenge that the government faces frequently,” said BNT President Larry Glinton.

"We are pleased that today it was decided that corporate and national environmental objectives are not mutually exclusive, and the result is that Egg island will remain in its natural state to be enjoyed by the people of The Bahamas for generations to come,” Mr Glinton said.

Disney abandoned the project after determining that the environmental impact would have been unacceptable, and also taking account of the significant local protest.

“This indicates that Disney has taken their commitment to coral reef conservation seriously”, said BNT Executive Director Eric Carey.

The Disney Conservation Fund supports Bahamian environmental projects, including the recently announced “Reverse the Decline” initiative, which supports reef conservation.

If the Egg Island project had proceeded, it would have led to the destruction of healthy coral reefs, and would have been counterproductive to Disney’s conservation efforts.

Bahamas National Trust statement on Egg Island - Jul 20, 2016 - 11:44:56 AM