Exuma Park no-take zone: what it bans, why it exists and how to report poaching

A no-take zone is an area where nothing is taken out: no catch, no souvenirs, no exceptions for casual visitors. The Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park applies that rule to the whole park, water and land.

This page, part of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park guide, covers what the rule bans, why it matters to the fish you will see, and what to do if you witness poaching. For the full rule list, read the park rules.

What the no-take rule bans

The park is a no-take zone: no fishing, conching, shelling or lobstering, and nothing living or dead may be removed from within the boundaries of Exuma Park¹.

The Trust repeats it in plain terms: no fishing, shelling or conching of any kind is permitted within the park boundaries². Read the list literally: fishing, conching, shelling and lobstering are all banned, whatever the method.

“Nothing living or dead” is the phrase to remember. A snorkeler who pockets a shell breaks the rule as surely as a spearfisher¹.

What the rule protects

The Trust describes the park as the first marine reserve in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, established in 1958². It calls the park the most visited national park in The Bahamas². As the first land and sea park in the world, it has shaped marine protected areas around the globe². It won the Platinum Global Ocean Refuge Award in 2018². Visitors can watch birds, fish, turtles and iguanas there².

The wildlife guide covers each of them, and the park history page covers how the reserve began.

Why the park is no-take

The Trust made the park a protected replenishment zone in 1985⁴, and its waters have been managed as a no-take reserve since 1986^1,3. That let commercially important species such as queen conch, Nassau grouper and spiny lobster thrive³. It was the first no-take zone in the Caribbean³.

One animal is the exception to the rule: ospreys are the only creatures allowed to fish in the park⁴.

Penalties

There are fines and confiscation of vessels for poaching violations¹.

The rule names the penalty plainly: fines and confiscation of vessels¹. Your boat is the stake. A charter captain or a crew member who fishes is risking the vessel for everyone aboard. If you are a guest on a chartered boat, tell the skipper the rule before you leave the dock.

The park is also staffed. The Bahamas Defence Force has stationed three officers at park headquarters to assist park staff with enforcement matters².

How to report poaching

Park wardens ask all visitors to report any poaching or other unusual activity². The steps are short:

• Call “Exuma Park” on VHF channel 09².
• Say what you saw and where.
• If you prefer, give a fictitious vessel name such as “Miss Molly” and stay anonymous².

The request covers other unusual activity too, not only fishing². You do not need to confront anyone, and you can call without giving your name. Channel 16 is monitored 24 hours a day for emergencies².

The park office is on a remote small island, so a call can take time to get through². Office hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 12pm². The Defence Force can be reached on VHF 16².

Where the zone starts

The rule applies everywhere inside the park boundary. The four corners, in degrees, minutes and seconds, are northwest Lat 24°30′37″ N, Long 76°52′37″ W; northeast Lat 24°35′30″ N, Long 76°45′50″ W; southwest Lat 24°14′25″ N, Long 76°36′02″ W; and southeast Lat 24°18′37″ N, Long 76°28′47″ W². Enter them as waypoints before you leave the dock, and keep gear stowed until you are clear of the line. The park boundaries page has the map.

Before you go

Fishing gear stays stowed while you are inside the park¹. Fees are covered in the fees and mooring fees guide. Then read the park rules in full, because the no-take rule is only one of them. For the animals the rule protects, see the wildlife guide.