thebahamasweekly.com - Tour of Award Winning Coral Vita

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Tour of Award Winning Coral Vita
By Robyn Adderley
Nov 16, 2021 - 12:17:33 PM

TOURING CORAL VITA – Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, the Hon. Clay Sweeting (at right) made his first official visit to Grand Bahama on Thursday. Accompanied by Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey (left), the group toured Coral Vita, which was led by one its founders, Gator Halpern (second left). Coral Vita is a coral restoration facility on the island that won the prestigious Earthshot Prize 2021 in the ‘Revive Our Oceans’ category recently: Minister Sweeting pledged his Ministry’s support to the coral farm facility. Also on the tour was Parliamentary Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, Theo Lightbourne. (BIS Photos/Lisa Davis)

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, the Hon. Clay Sweeting, during his first official visit to Grand Bahama on Thursday had a tour of Coral Vita, the coral restoration facility on the island.

Following the tour conducted by co-founder and president Gator Halpern, The Minister congratulated the owners of the facility on their recent award, the prestigious Earthshot Prize 2021 in the Revive Our Oceans category and described what they are doing as “tremendous work.” Coral Vita is a non-profit coral farm, growing more resistant, diverse coral to restore dying reefs in The Bahamas and around the world.

GROUP SHOT – Following the tour of Coral Vita, the coral restoration facility on Grand Bahama, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, the Hon. Clay Sweeting (center front row) paused to have a group photo with operators of the establishment. Shown from left in the front row are Allanah Vellacott, Coral Restoration Specialist; Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey; Minister Sweeting; and Gator Halpern, co-founder and president. Shown from left in the back row are: Joel Lewis, permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; Theo Lightbourne, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; and Harcourt Brown, permanent secretary, Ministry for Grand Bahama. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

“As Minister for Marine Resources, it is vital that we find ways to increase capacity in our fishing waters, and Coral Vita has found ways to assist us in replenishing our coral system.” Minister Sweeting further described the work as “transformative” and pledged support from his ministry.

Continuing, he said, with climate change and the attendance at the recent COP26 conference, “I think we’re all interconnected to find ways to adapt to climate change in regard to mangrove systems and coral revitalization.”

Minister Sweeting was accompanied on the tour by Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey, and by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, Leonardo Lightbourne.

MINISTER CLAY SWEETING visited Grand Bahama on his first official visit on Thursday. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

EXPLAINING THINGS – Gator Halpern, co-founder, and president of Coral Vita, explained the growth process of their coral restoration facility to Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, the Hon. Clay Sweeting while on his first official visit to Grand Bahama on Thursday. Also shown are Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey; and Theo Lightbourne, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)