100,000 Mangroves and Counting: A Win for Bonefish Habitat in the Bahamas

Articles

Feb 3

Written by : Trent Jones

If you love chasing bonefish and permit in the Bahamas like me, here’s some good news—Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and its partners just hit a major milestone: planting the 100,000th mangrove seedling since Hurricane Dorian. That’s a huge win for both the fishery and the coastal communities that depend on these vital ecosystems

Why Mangroves Matter

Mangroves do more than just create epic backdrops for a day on the flats. I like to think of mangroves as the lifeblood of the fishery, acting as nurseries for bonefish, permit, tarpon, and other species, because without them, we’d see a serious decline in the fish populations. They also protect shorelines from storm surges and absorb carbon, making them critical for climate resilience.

The Largest Mangrove Restoration in Bahamian History

After Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas in 2019, BTT launched an ambitious five-year restoration project to rebuild what was lost. On December 7, they celebrated reaching 100,000 mangroves planted at Dover Sound, Grand Bahama. The event honored the guides, volunteers, students, and government officials who made it happen.

Grand Bahama bonefish guide Leroy Glinton summed it up best: “With the mangrove planting, it’s going to help the Bahamas 100 percent—because why? You are nurturing and taking care of your fish.”

What’s Next?

The work doesn’t stop here. BTT and its partners have now set their sights on an even bigger goal—planting one millionmangroves by 2026 through the newly formed Bahamas Mangrove Alliance. That means more habitat for fish, more protection for coastal communities, and a healthier future for the flats we all love.

Want to support the cause? Learn more about BTT’s restoration efforts 👉 here.

Conservation