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Threatened & Endangered Species of Bimini
As man’s reach over nature extends further and further every year, we are finally coming to realize the devastating effects that humankind has been wreaking on the fragile ecosystems of the world. Today, scientists note that we are facing a worldwide mass extinction that rivals that of the period that wiped out the dinosaurs. Scientists also agree that humanity’s most significant impact on this alarming extinction rate is landscape modification. (1)
The destruction of natural habitat, also referred to as landscape modification, is sometimes inevitable. As the population of people grows every year, the impact on nature grows as well. However, much of the destruction of the Earth’s landscape is unnecessary, and stems not from man’s needs, but from man’s greed. 
What made Bimini famous almost 100 years ago was the wildlife, primarily the fish, that inhabited the waters around the islands. Bimini’s unique geographical position is one of the key factors that has produced the island’s legendary wildlife, both in the sea and on land. The other main factor that contributes to Bimini’s ecological diversity is the mangroves. Both the land animals and sea creatures depend on Bimini’s mangroves for their food and shelter.
As the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino destroys Bimini’s mangroves, not only are they wiping out the future of Bimini’s fish, lobster, and conch populations, but they are also pushing a number of threatened & endangered species further towards extinction. Such a brazen disregard for nature and the moral responsibility of mankind is unthinkable to most, and unless people work to correct this ignorance we will soon be past the point of any recovery. Listed below are some of the Threatened & Endangered species found in the area being destroyed by the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino. 1)Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata) 
The Smalltooth Sawfish is one of the rarest fish in the world, sometimes listed as Critically Endangered by conservation groups. This amazingly unique fish is actually classified as a ray, even though its body is more like that of a shark. The saw, which gives the fish it’s name, is used for catching prey, defending against predators, and in competition during mating behavior.
Smalltooth Sawfish are not common anywhere in the world, though they have been documented many times around Bimini, including several in the North Sound lagoon. In 2004, scientists in Bimini tagged a Smalltooth Sawfish just north of Mosquito Point, a vast area of mangroves that has since been bulldozed and filled by the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino. That individual sawfish was sighted in the same area for weeks following, proving what a vital area Bimini’s North Sound lagoon was for this rare species. Today, the entire region of the lagoon where the sawfish was sighted has been cleared & filled. What once was proven habitat for one of the rarest animals on the planet has been consumed by the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino. 2)Hawksbill Turtle ( Eretmochelys imbriocota ) 
Of the seven species of sea turtle that exist in the world today, all are viewed by conservation groups as Endangered. The Hawksbill Turtle however, is one of the rarest of them all. The Hawksbill turtle is also the only species of sea turtle that is protected by Bahamian law.
While many of the turtles around Bimini use the reef as their home, the shallow mangrove lagoons are also essential habitat. Hawksbill turtles frequent the North Sound lagoon, most likely using the area not only for feeding but also predator avoidance. Degrading the habitat for this turtle around Bimini will not only affect the Hawksbills found here today, but also the future of the species as a whole, as Bimini also serves as nesting area for this species. 3)Green Turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) 
Green Turtles were once abundant around the Caribbean and West Indies, though today their numbers have decreased dramatically. While widely viewed as an Endangered species and in need of protection, large Green Turtles are still harvested in the Bahamas.
Of all the turtles around Bimini, the Green Turtles may have the most dependence on the shallow lagoons within the islands. It is in the shallow mangrove lagoons that their main food source is found, seagrass. The dredging that the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino has already done, and continues to do to build their marina, has smothered much of the seagrass around North Bimini. As the health of the seagrass declines, so does the population of Bimini’s Green Turtles. 4)Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) 
Loggerhead Turtles are the largest of the 3 species of sea turtle that inhabit Bimini’s waters. Similar to the Green Turtle, Loggerheads are considered Endangered worldwide, though they are not protected in the Bahamas.
Both small and large Loggerheads use Bimini’s mangrove and seagrass lagoons as habitat. During the winter months, North Bimini’s western shore serves as nesting area for this rare species, with the hatchlings often seen not only out in deeper water, but also in the sheltered waters of Bimini’s shallow lagoons. Like the nesting Hawksbill Turtles of Bimini, the Loggerheads face additional, even graver threats as their habitat is degraded by the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino. 5)West Indian Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus ruber ruber ) 
The West Indian Flamingo, a sub-species of the Greater Flamingo, is the National Bird of the Bahamas. In the 1950’s, the population of these beautiful birds was so low in the Bahamas that it was believed they were soon to become extinct. However, with the help of conservation groups and the passing of a Bahamian law protecting them, their numbers in the southern Bahamas have recovered.
Shallow, muddy lagoons are essential habitat for the West Indian Flamingo, not only for its food but also for nesting. Bimini’s North Sound lagoon does not serve as home for a colony of Flamingos, but in their yearly migrations to the North it is common to see them using the lagoon as refuge. It seems almost unthinkable that foreign developers, such as the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino, would be allowed to threaten the habitat of the national bird of the Bahamas. 6)Bimini Boa ( Epicrates striatus fosteri ) 
The Bimini Boa is arguably the most unique part of Bimini’s wildlife, as this beautiful, harmless snake is not found anywhere else in the world. Similar to the West Indian Flamingo, the Bimini Boa is so precious that it is protected by Bahamian law. The Bimini Boa not only inhabits the forested areas being destroyed by the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino, but also prowls the mangroves of the North Sound lagoon feeding on rats and mice.
While the other endangered species on this list face worldwide threats, the fate of this endemic reptile lies entirely in the hands of Biminites and those that care about this small island. (1) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/2/l_032_04.html |