Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS)

Happy Holidays from the Perry Institute for Marine Science!🎄 Thank you for joining us on this 12 day journey of reflection and celebration. We hope you have a SEA-son filled with joy and ocean-sized happiness! May your holidays be as vibrant and diverse as the coral reefs and coasts we work to protect. Let the spirit of conservation and discovery guide you into a new year of marine wonders and sustainable practices💚💙❤️ #12DaysOfChristmas #GiveawayWinner #HappyHolidays #MerryChristmas #SeasonOfGiving

🎁On the 12th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 128 Acres of Mangrove Forests Restored Across Abaco🌱 We’re ending 2024 with a major milestone in mangrove restoration that is bringing hope and healing to The Bahamas- over 100,000 mangroves planted across Abaco! 🌱💚 This year, we successfully planted a grand total of 103,463 mangroves across 128 acres of swamps, creeks, and flats in the Marls of Abaco—one of the most important marine protected areas (MPA) in The Bahamas. This achievement is more than just a win for marine conservation—it’s a critical step in helping the people of Abaco recover from the lasting effects of Hurricane Dorian. Locally and internationally known as a bonefishing haven, the Marls suffered tremendous habitat loss due to the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The health and functionality of ecosystems like the Marls are crucial to the livelihoods of local fishers, boat captains, tour guides, and many others who rely on its resources, as well as the Bahamian economy. Restoring these vital habitats is key to rebuilding both the environment and the local economy, helping ensure that future generations can continue to thrive. With the combined efforts of our fellow partners of The Bahamas Mangrove Alliance (BMA), we’ve planted over 250,000 mangroves across The Bahamas so far, and are well on our way to our goal of 1 million mangroves planted! As we embark on the new year, we continue to strive to extend beyond the shorelines and make lasting impacts for local communities. Thank you to our partners, volunteers and everyone who has supported this journey💚 👉 Support our goal of planting 1 million mangroves today: https://lnkd.in/gnVWkttV #12DaysofChristmas #MangroveRestoration #HurricaneDorian #AbacoStrong #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 11th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… A Heartfelt Thank You for Supporting our Fundraising💙 This holiday season, we want to express our gratitude to each and every ocean-lover who has donated to support us. With almost $18,000 donated across four campaigns, your generous contributions continue to propel our efforts to restore coral reefs, revitalize mangrove forests, sustain critical fisheries, and train the next generation of ocean stewards. ✨As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the kindness of our supporters to carry out our mission. With the unwavering support of our donors and partners, we are: 🐠 Educating Young Bahamians in Coral Restoration. We are empowering the next generation of ocean stewards by providing educational programs like Rising Tides that inspire and teach young Bahamians about the importance of marine conservation. 🌊 Restoring Coral Reefs. Led by our Reef Rescue Network, we rebuild coral reefs that have suffered at the hands of climate change-induced coral bleaching, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), and more. Your donation is actively contributing to the rehabilitation of coral reefs that provide shelter, food, and protection for countless marine species and coastal communities. 🐟 Supporting Sustainable Fisheries. We use science and community-based research to promote responsible fishing practices to ensure our local fish populations remain healthy and our fishing communities thrive for generations to come. 🌿 Protecting Mangroves and Coasts. We work to preserve coastal ecosystems that shield our shores from erosion, support biodiversity, and act as natural barriers against hurricanes and storm surges in the ongoing era of climate change. Every dollar you’ve donated makes a difference, but there is still so much more to be done. As we celebrate the season of giving, we encourage you to continue supporting our mission for thriving seas and empowered communities. 👉 Donate today to make a difference: https://lnkd.in/g8g739xT #12DaysofChristmas #MarineConservation #CoralRestoration #SustainableFisheries #MangroveProtection #ProtectOurOceans

🎁On the 10th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 10 Bahamian Islands Surveyed & Studied!🔍 It’s been a busy year island hopping in the name of marine conservation! All across The Bahamas we have partnered with local experts and fishers marrying island fishing traditions and scientific research in hope of saving our seas! Across The Bahamas’ chain of 700 islands and cays are valued ocean resources like seafood, sponges, and seagrasses that all need to be monitored and assessed. ✨With our communities help, we were able to: ✅Complete mangrove fish surveys in Grand Bahama & Abaco ✅Lead marine rapid ecological assessment of coral reefs and seagrasses around Little Inagua ✅Complete mangrove fish surveys in New Providence & Eleuthera ✅Complete assessments for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 2020 project for Bonefish ✅Pond National Park, Lucayan National Park, Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, Exuma Cays ✅Land & Sea Park & Westside Andros National Park ✅Assess queen conch and sea cucumber across 6 islands. At PIMS, we value the insights and expertise of fishers and are proud to celebrate fisher-scientist collaboration. We would like to give special thanks to our community of fishers who share their knowledge and support our research as we work together to preserve and protect Bahamian waters. Our fisheries research helps inform sustainable fisheries management practices and implement new rules and laws in The Bahamas, ensuring that the marine life we treasure are protected for future generations. 💻 Learn more about our fisheries research across The Bahamas🇧🇸 Visit 👉 https://lnkd.in/gyMA-8V4 #12DaysOfChristmas #Fisheries #Fishing #Conservation #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 9th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me.. Up To A 95% Success Rate for Treating SCTLD! 🪸 This year we are grateful to celebrate the progress we’ve made protecting our reefs. 2024 brought with it many advancements in our fight against the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). With remarkable progress made in SCTLD monitoring, treatment, and partner training, we are thrilled to report a 70-95% success rate for corals treated with antibiotics!💪 Since 2014, SCTLD has spread from Florida to over 30 countries across the Caribbean, infecting 34 species of stony corals–our major reef-building corals. Caribbean countries thrive off the treasured bounties our ocean provides– food and fisheries, medicine, tourist attractions, and more. For many, the ocean is a livelihood and a lifestyle, and we must protect it in order to protect our communities. With over 8,000 corals treated for SCTLD in The Bahamas and Colombia, PIMS is fighting against all odds to protect our coral reefs! This success story could not be written without the continued support of local communities. None of this would be possible without YOU! From reporting disease sightings to donating and spreading awareness, your efforts are helping us protect the reefs that sustain us all. 💻 Learn More & Join the Fight: Visit 👉 https://lnkd.in/gFxUmuea #12DaysofChristmas #SCTLD #StopTheSpread #Caribbean #Colombia #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 8th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 8 Rising Tiders Filled with Glee!🤩 Our 2024 summer students joined us on an unforgettable journey beneath the waves! Launched in 2022, our Rising Tides Youth Program was designed to expose highschool students to the hard work that goes into becoming a skilled marine scientist💪Inspired to take on the task, 8 students used this opportunity to dive into the underwater world, and took with them skills that will last a lifetime. ✨ This year, our Rising Tides students earned: 🔹 5 Open Water Divers 🔹 4 Reef Rescue Divers 🔹 2 Advanced Open Water Divers At PIMS, we see inspiration and empowerment as gifts that keep on giving. Many of our students agree the highlight of the program was earning their PADI dive certifications, a lifelong achievement that opens so many doors to future academic successes and career opportunities. Armed with their newfound diving skills, our students explored the fascinating world of coral restoration, sharpened their species identification skills, and learned how fun it is to dive into marine conservation. Relive the magic of the summer. Watch our Rising Tides 2024 Recap Video and see the impact of this incredible program: https://lnkd.in/grCQFVN7 #12DaysOfChristmas #CoralRestoration #ReefRescueNetwork #PerryInstitute

🍽️🎄Now that you are planning your Christmas and New Year's Eve feasts, you have the opportunity to make a difference for the big blue by choosing an ocean-friendly festive menu. 🐠💪🏽Contribute to the recovery of a critically endangered species, like the Nassau grouper. Let them off the hook and your holiday menus! 🚨The Nassau (and the red hind) are aggregated to spawn right now. Respect their reproduction. The coral reefs and the livelihoods that depend on these fisheries will thank you --and so will we. #RecoverBigFish #NassauGrouper #CriticallyEndangered #SustainableSeafood

🎁On the 7th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me... 7 Summer Interns! As 2024 comes to an end, we are so proud to celebrate all who joined us on our journey. This year, we welcomed 7 summer interns to work within various PIMS programs, and this ambitious collective deserves our cheers for happily dedicating their summer breaks to making a difference with us! At PIMS, community is at the core of everything we do. With the steadfast support of our local communities, we work to protect and restore our ocean. In turn, our internship program is our way of giving back to our community in meaningful ways. ✨Thanks to your support, our interns achieved incredible things this year: 🐟 Gadville McDonald, our Fisheries intern, honed his digital media skills by creating sea cucumber social media content. 🌿Charissa Taylor, our CCEA intern, travelled to North Andros to investigate the impact of blocked creeks on local fishers. ♻️Andria Conliffe, another CCEA intern, dove into marine education, exploring how different tools and resources like educational posters, social media, and environmental activities can be used to give insight and promote awareness of conservation for young Bahamians. 🪸Delaney Mizell and Haley Bethell, our Abaco coral and mangrove interns, made waves with their hands on approach to coral nursery building and mangrove propagule collection. 🌱Kaitlyn Gaitor and Thejon Edgecombe, our Abaco mangrove interns, put community engagement and teamwork to work as they collected, grew, and planted hundreds of mangroves across Abaco– making huge contributions to our goal of planting 100,000 mangroves in 2024! 🌊 Why does this matter? These internships are more than summer jobs – they’re a launchpad for Bahamian students to become future leaders in marine conservation. Whether monitoring coral reefs, restoring mangroves, or safeguarding fisheries, these young people are taking action to secure the future of our ocean and our islands. ✨ Join the next wave of ocean leaders. Are you a young Bahamian (tertiary student or early-career professional) passionate about social science and the environment? Or do you know someone who is? 👉 Apply now for our 2025 internship program: https://lnkd.in/g5NAZe_k #12DaysOfChristmas #Conservation #Internship #PerryInstitute

🎁On the 6th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me… 60 Bahamians Certified in Diving🤿 This holiday season, we’re celebrating something truly special: the incredible journey of 60 Bahamians who earned their PADI dive certifications this year, thanks to the unwavering support of our donors and partners. At PIMS, we believe in empowering people to protect the ocean we all love. Through our Community Conservation, Education & Action (CCEA) program, our dedicated dive trainers at the Reef Rescue Network and the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub at Cape Eleuthera Institute, and continuous support from the Disney Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy, we’re building the next generation of ocean champions. ✨ This year, your generosity helped us achieve: 🔹 56 Open Water Divers 🔹 54 Advanced Open Water Divers 🔹 48 Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response, and Oxygen Providers 🔹 30 Reef Rescue Divers From high schoolers enrolled in our Rising Tides field school, to local Eleutherians and Bahamian government officials, these newly certified divers are already making waves. They’re equipped to tackle urgent conservation efforts like reef health assessments and coral restoration – vital tools in the fight against coral bleaching and the devastating Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) Visit our website to learn how you can be a part of the next wave of ocean conservationists https://lnkd.in/g6h2JX_A #12DaysofChristmas #PADI #RestoreCorals #DiversBahamas #OceanExplorers

🎁On the 5th Day of Christmas PIMS Gave to Me... 50 Coral Nurseries in the Sea🪸 At the heart of our Reef Rescue Network is a mission to rehabilitate coral reefs through science-driven coral restoration efforts. Throughout the Caribbean, we’ve established coral nurseries designed to accelerate growth and help reefs recover from damage and disease. Today, the Reef Rescue Network is made up of 50 coral nursery locations across The Bahamas, Aruba, and St. Lucia—an expansion that has greatly enhanced our ability to cultivate and restore coral populations. Today, our network spans three countries and 14 islands, making us the largest coral restoration coalition in the Caribbean. We would like to say thank you to our expansive network of partners, non-profits and for-profit businesses that have shared in our common goal of rehabilitating reef ecosystems, educating locals and visitors on ocean conservation, and promoting a healthy ocean💙 #12DaysOfChristmas #CoralRestoration #ReefRescueNetwork #PerryInstitute