Recent News
End-to-End names charities to benefit from 2023 eventSaturday, February 18, 2023
Five charities will benefit from money raised at this year’s Convex End-to-End, it was announced today.
Funds raised will go to the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Microforest Project, Gina Spence Productions, the Eliza DoLittle Society, the Skills Development Programme and Vision Bermuda.
Juvenile Seal Rescued From Clearwater Beach
Saturday, February 18, 2023
A seal was seen at Clearwater Beach today [Feb 18] and it returned to the ocean before BAMZ staff could arrive to provide assistance, and they noted that a “seal in Bermuda is in distress” so have advised that anyone sees the seal please keep your distance and contact the BAMZ Animal hotline at 293-2727.
BZS Lionfish Chowder Competition
Saturday, February 18, 2023
The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] held an Eat’Um to Beat’Um Lionfish Chowder Competition event this afternoon [Feb 18] at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo [BAMZ], with crowds of people coming out to taste the various chowders.
Micro forests take root across the island
Thursday, January 19, 2023
An effort to establish a series of “micro forests” across the island has established ten thriving plots, according to the Bermuda Zoological Society.
Successful First Year of Micro Forest Project
Thursday, January 19, 2023
The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] has highlighted the BZS Micro Forest Project, which has an aim to plant 1,500 native-compatible and endemic plants each year for three years.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Cooper Stevenson
Published Jul 1, 2014 at 8:00 am
A Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) at Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo. Photo Mark Tatem.
Anecdotal reports on the numbers of predatory reef fish following the weekend’s Reef Watch survey are “not good”, according to Bermuda Zoological Society chief scientist Thad Murdoch.
While Dr Murdoch and the Reef Watch teams still have to analyse the data collected over the weekend, he said a lack of predatory fish on the reefs was not a good sign for predatory fish populations, which play a key role in keeping other fish species in-check.
“Certainly this year and last year people saw much fewer predatory fish than one would expect, based on what a healthy reef should have,” said Dr Murdoch.
“We still have to process this year’s data, but people were mentioning how they hadn’t seen one snapper or one grouper on a whole reef. That’s not good. People should be seeing 40 or 50 snappers and grouper on a reef.”
Around 20 boats carrying volunteer “citizen scientists” this weekend ventured out onto Bermuda’s reefs as part of the annual survey, raising more than $24,000.
Reef Watch — a community environmental monitoring and fundraising project run by Bermuda Zoological Society — aims to advance local knowledge on the health and abundance of critical species of fish and coral in Bermuda.
“What we’re doing is getting people to learn how to identify what a healthy reef looks like and we teach them what types of fish should be on a reef and what kind of abundances they should be seeing, so when they go out to a reef they can tell whether the reef is really healthy or if its not in good shape,” said Dr Murdoch.
However, Dr Murdoch said that reports on reef health were positive. “It sounded like coral health was good. Last year [Reef Watch] was right after a very hot summer, so coral bleaching was a threat and people did actually see it. This year, because it’s the beginning of summer, we didn’t expect people to see bleaching and from what I heard, I don’t think people did.”
In addition to collecting critical data on reef health and fish populations, participants also raised $24,573 in funds for the ongoing protection and conservation of Bermuda’s coral reefs, more than $3,000 compared to Reef Watch 2013.