Recent News

Protecting the island's rarest species
Friday, July 05, 2013

Mark Outerbridge has been charged with no minor task. As Conservation Service’s new Wildlife Ecologist he is responsible for ensuring that Bermuda’s rarest and most endangered species are not wiped out in the sands of time.


Baby dolphin photographed off North Shore
Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Boaters off the North Shore had a rare opportunity to witness passing Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.


Two Dolphins Spotted Inshore Off North Shore
Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A pair of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins were spotted inshore yesterday [June 24] off the North Shore, and the Department of Conservation said it is “highly unusual” for them to be close to shore and in such small numbers.


The Sea Dragon Trip
Friday, June 07, 2013

My name is Choy Aming and I am an aquarist at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. I was recently sent out on a collecting assignment in the Sargasso Sea on the research vessel Sea Dragon.


Bermuda Skinks heading for a UK ‘lifeboat’
Friday, June 07, 2013

The fight to protect the critically endangered Bermuda Skink has found a new ally — the UK’s Chester Zoo



About

Governance
About Us
Newsletter
Latest News
Gift & Bookstore

Contact

General Inquiries

(441) 293-2727

info@bzs.bm


Latest News

All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!

Reefs in fairly good condition, but report highlights some concerns
Royal Gazette
Monday, May 12, 2014

By Owain Johnston-Barnes
Published May 12, 2014 at 8:00 am

Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) has officially presented its 2013 Reef Watch report to Government, containing data recently gathered on the health of the Island’s reefs.

The report is the result of the Reef Watch 2013 initiative, which brought together more than a 100 volunteers on August 31 in support of the Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring (BREAM) programme led by chief scientist Thaddeus Murdoch.

Together the volunteers surveyed 35 reefs covering more than 500 square kilometres of the Bermuda lagoon.

A spokeswoman said that based on the data collected, Bermuda’s reefs are still in “fairly good condition,” but there were areas of concern.

The BZS is already planning Reef Watch 2014, which is set to take place on June 28. Teams can register online at www.bzs.bm.

BZS president Richard Winchell said: “Reef Watch is a unique opportunity for every one to visit and better understand our coral reefs. Everyone had fun on the day, valuable data was collected and significant funds were raised by participants and company donors to support ongoing coral reef research.

RG_140512_1a.jpeg
Bermuda’s reefs were found to be in a ‘fairly good condition’
by a survey last year, however, some areas of concern have
been highlighted in the Reef Watch report.

“We wish to thank the Hiscox team for adopting the Reef Watch project and making it such a success, and to Dr Murdoch for compiling and analysing the data into this insightful report on the health of Bermuda’s coral reefs.”

Hiscox CEO Jeremy Pinchin added: “It is easy in our hectic day-to-day life to forget how fragile these environments are and how quickly the action of people, whether through local or international activity, can degrade these reefs.

“The impact of damage to the reefs of Bermuda would severely impact the economy of the Island, not just as a tourist destination but also a business location. Such a loss would impact every Bermudian in a significant way.”

“Damage to the reefs can occur very quickly and it is through the work of scientists such as Dr Thad Murdoch, we can monitor and, hopefully, rectify damage to our reefs before that damage can become irreversible.”