Manchineel Bay on Cooper Island, Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided

Environmental management entails conserving, protecting, employing and preserving environmental resources for the benefit of current and future generations. An environmental programme typically includes: a) environmental compliance (air quality attainment, noise abatement, wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment and discharge; hazardous waste management), b) environmental restoration(remediation) and c) natural and cultural resource management (archeological and historical resources, land and renewable/non-renewable resources, i.e., fish, forests, fossil fuels…etc.). Further, the environment is vital for developing, growing and sustaining the national/territorial economy.

The economy is linked to the environment and in this commentary, the focus will be on environmental protection and compliance, how to preserve the pristine nature of the sea and the potential use of the sea beyond traditional activities----tourism, fisheries and marine transport. Per the United Nations Trade and Development, the oceans and seas provide food and minerals, generate oxygen, absorb greenhouse gases, determine weather patterns and temperature and serves as highways for seaborne international trade. And oceans and seas can play a major role in contributing to achieving sustainable development, economic growth and livelihoods.

Economy

The twin pillars of the VI economy are financial services and tourism; though financial services contributes more revenue (60%) to government coffers, tourism generates more direct, indirect and induced employment. Tourism contributions make up approximately 40% of GDP (Tourist Board, Tourism Education Manual). It, coupled with financial services, must be the anchor for diversifying the economy. In the tourism sector, the sea is a major attraction for both land- and water-based tourists. Moreover, in addition to supporting the tourism sector, the sea provides a) a habitat for the marine life, b) marine transportation, c) major food source for residents and d) a source of income for commercial fishermen and other entrepreneurs.  

Additionally, both tourists and residents use the sea for a myriad of recreational activities: fishing, swimming, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving and boating; the VI is a premier yachting centre. And given the apparent importance of the sea, it must be protected and preserved for the use and enjoyment of current and future Virgin Islanders, as well as to support, grow and sustain economic growth.

Healthy State

The VI comprised 59 square miles spread over 36 islands, cays, islets and rocks with approximately 50 miles of coastline ringed with white sand beaches and turquoise water. The territorial sea extends out about 3 nautical miles (some countries extend territorial sea up to 12 miles), comprising approximately 500 square miles, almost 8 times the size of the land area. The Exclusive Economic Zone (fishing zone) extends out about 200 nautical miles to the north and northeast and about 45 nautical miles southeast from the low water mark. Thus, to ensure that the sea can continue to support, grow and  sustain the economy, protect the fragile ecosystem, protect marine life yet protect and preserve it for the use and enjoyment of both current residents and future generations of Virgin Islanders yet unborn, it (sea) must be maintained in a healthy state.

Process and Actions

The following are some suggested processes and actions that can contribute to maintaining the sea in a heathy state:

• Require an environmental permit to discharge into the sea consistent with established requirements;
• Establish and rollout a public education and outreach initiative to educate the public on the cost of polluting the sea, contaminating of seafood, harming reefs and other     marine   life;
• Restrict discharge of raw sewage into the sea, especially along the coastline, to outside the 3-mile territorial sea from central sewage plants, septic systems, marine vessels, pump trucks;
• Require yachts and other marine vessels have holding tanks on board;
• Construct pump out facilities ashore for yachts and other marine vessels
• Construct central/municipal sewage treatment plants across Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke;
• Monitor and take action to improve storm water runoff, i.e., pesticides, brake fluid, hazardous substances……etc.;
• Protect remaining mangroves and initiate an aggressive replanting programme;
• Restrict dumping of thrash, hazardous substances…. etc. into ghuts, ditches and other drainage channels; into the sea, particularly along the coastline, and within the 3-mile territorial sea;
• Establish a water laboratory for use by Water, Sewage and Drainage departments;
• Monitor and routinely test water along the coastline; test water after a heavy rain;

Pollution and Contamination

Discharging of raw or partially treated sewage into the sea (coastal areas) from sewage plants and other land sources, together with the discharge from marine vessels, is a major source of pollution and contamination of the sea, especially along coastal areas. Storm water runoff also contributes to pollution and contamination. Dumping raw sewage into sea pollutes and contaminates the water, contaminates shellfish and other marine food sources, and depletes oxygen in the water, which may result in fish kills. Further, bacteria and viruses in the discharged sewage/effluent can infect swimmers, divers…...etc. with a myriad of diseases, e.g., hepatitis, typhoid, e-coli, gastroenteritis, diarrhea…. etc.

Moreover, dumping/pumping sewage into ghuts and other drainage channels and also on land surfaces ultimately ends up into the sea. All ghuts, streams, rivers……etc. flows/empties into the sea. During an intense and prolonged rain event, the effluent dumped in drainage channels and surfaces is picked up and discharged into the sea. The sea is a major attraction for tourism, a source of other employment (fishing, marine transportation) and provides a myriad of recreational activities. However, these activities must be balanced with the need for protecting and preserving the resource. Further, the Blue Economy presents strengths and opportunities that should be explored and capitalised on with smart ocean/sea planning.

Blue Economy

Per the World Bank, the Blue Economy is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihood and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.” European Commission: “All economic activities related to oceans seas and coasts.” The Commonwealth of Nations: “an emerging concept which encourages better stewardship of our ocean or ‘blue’ resources.” The VI must actively explore the use of the sea beyond the traditional uses, i.e., fisheries, tourism and maritime transport. It must look at sea as a new frontier of sorts and explore its potential and possibilities for adding another leg to its economic stool, diversifying the economy. Potential Blue Economy sectors include renewable energy, aquaculture, and marine biotechnology.