Cruise passengers wait anxiously to disembark. When the doors finally open, they scurry down the gangway into waiting taxis and buses, eager to see what Barbados has to offer.
The most coveted destination is the beach, where the dreams of some vacationers come true as they experience “advertised” paradise. This paradise is part of the larger marine space, which Barbados agreed to protect as a signatory to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity and later, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in December 2022. The framework outlines 23 target action goals, with Target 3 focusing on 30% marine protection by 2030.
Cementing its dedication to the 30×30 goal, Barbados entered into a debt-for-nature swap, legally tying its financial recovery to its environmental commitment.
Despite these highly visible international stances and the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, Cap 392; the Coastal Zone Management Act, Cap 394; and the Marine Pollution Control Act, Cap 392A Acts, Barbados protects less than 1% of its marine space through its sole legally designated Marine Protected Area, the Barbados Marine Reserve. This reserve, located at Folkestone on the west coast, is protected by law and divided into four zones for research, recreation, and water sports.
The Barbados Marine Reserve, located on the west coast, and Carlisle Bay Marine Park on the south coast, together account for less than 1% of the island’s marine space under official protection.
