Aquaculture, Cape Eleuthera Institute, CEI

More Baby Fish Have Arrived!

On Friday, January 27th half a million eggs arrived from Miami, Florida! They were placed in an incubation tank, where they hatched early Saturday morning. To the naked eye they looked like pieces of rosemary floating in the water. But under the microscope you could see the egg sack that was encased around the head and the tail was sticking out. The bottom of the tank was siphoned in order to get rid of the unhatched eggs and dead larvae. This is very important because if they were left in the tank bacteria can grow, which can kill the larvae. After determining how many larvae were alive, they were then transferred into six larval rearing tanks. They will obtain their food from their egg sack for three days. Cobia develop after they hatch, which means their mouths are very small and in turn can only eat rotifers for the first couple of weeks. They will eat enriched rotifers for about three weeks and then move onto eating artemia for another 45 days. Once they start growing more we will be able to wean them onto dry food and then eventually bring them out to the offshore cage that is fitted with shark resistant netting that was donated by DSM Dyneema!

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Cape Eleuthera Institute

Lionfish Research at CEI Adjusts Its Focus

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The Lionfish Research and Education Program (LREP) at CEI has already had an exciting start to 2012! Last year, research efforts were focused on a lionfish removal study to document changes in native species at reefs where lionfish densities were regularly controlled. This year officially marks the end of that study…now it’s time to answer new questions! LREP research will focus on addressing questions associated with lionfish recolonization. Understanding rates as well as biological and physical factors that influence where lionfish recolonize can help support best management strategies for the Bahamas and the surround invaded region. Continue reading →

Deep Creek Middle School, Uncategorized

DCMS Grade 8 School Without Walls

DCMS students are currently studying in their School Without Walls unit. Grade 8 is looking at the effect of plastics on the environment, ocean and human health. They are conducting sand samples at local beaches, trawling for plastic in the Exuma Sound gyre and will be writing speeches that encourage individuals to make a change to tackle the pervasiveness of plastic. At the end of their unit, they will conduct a youth conference to share their knowledge with other young people in Eleuthera.

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Cape Eleuthera Institute, CEI

Update from CEI’s Flats Ecology Research

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So everyone has heard of climate change/global warming- increased anthropogenic CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere shifts annual global climate, which then leads to other catastrophic events within the Earth’s ecosphere. An increase in oceanic temperature and acidity is among the most pressing and readily apparent effects of climate change. Past research has shown fish of tropical reefs to be particularly sensitive to changes in ocean temperature and pH. In the flats department, we aim to determine whether common teleost occupants of tropical mangroves exhibit a similar sensitivity to such changes. Using bonefish (Albula spp.), checkered puffers (Sphoeroides tetudineus), juvenile yellowfin mojarra (Gerres cinereus), and juvenile yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), we aim to determine the Critical maximum and minimum temperature and pH at which each species looses equilibrium (“goes belly up”). Continue reading →

News

2012 Off to a Strong Start

As The Island School emerges in its 14th year, we feel stronger than ever as an organization having two lead donors ensure the longevity of the school and its supporting programs.

The Searle Family has supported the growth of The Island School since before the beginning. Bill and Sally Searle made their first gift of support in 1996. The entire family has been behind the development of the semester program and the creation of DCMS and CEI. As of today, four grandchildren have undertaken The Island School journey (Jake Searle S’02, Abby Klarr Bebee S’02, Bekah Klarr S’04 and Nathan Klarr S’11). We also have new energy emerging through the program with new Island School parents, Floyd and Kim Wilson, who have become huge supporters of The Island School program since their daughter, Kelley Duggan, completed her semester in Spring 2011. Together, the Wilson and Searle families play a large role in getting 2012 off to such a strong start with two $1,000,000 lead gifts to support endowment, educators, students and programs. Continue reading →

Aquaculture, Cape Eleuthera Institute

The Fish Have Arrived!

I repeat…THE FISH HAVE ARRIVED!

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After much anticipation, we got the call! The cobia fingerlings had a long journey from The University of Miami’s experimental fish hatchery at RSMAS to the Cape Eleuthera Institute. We spent the day preparing the tanks for the fingerlings…scrub, rinse, soak, drain, scrub, rinse, fill! Marie and Josh took the truck to pick up the 13 boxes from the Rock Sound Airport Friday afternoon. It was like Christmas morning when the truck finally pulled up. We put the bags in the tank to acclimate the cobia to their new home. After, we opened each bag and carefully let them free! The fingerlings will be used in an upcoming feed trial. Continue reading →

Uncategorized

Williams College Spends Another January Term at The Island School

For the eighth year, Sarah Gardner of Williams College brought a January term class to stay at The Island School and research different topics. Last year, this class studied how agriculture on Eleuthera could be revitalized, and this year, continued that work by addressing three main issues: fruit and vegetable processing and slaughtering, increasing youth involvement in farming, and changing the packing house system. Local farming on Eleuthera plays a vital role in increasing food security and reducing import dependency, as well as providing economic opportunities for young people. The students remark:

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“To better understand these issues, we conducted field research and interviews with restaurants, farmers, government officials, and high school students. Shaun Ingraham was instrumental in helping us set up interviews with high school students, Continue reading →

Events

NYC Admissions Reception a Great Success!

We had over 50 guests attend the Admissions Reception at the Florio’s Home in New York City last night, including many interested families, prospective students, and of course plenty of alums! Thank you to all who attended–and a very big thank you to the Florios for hosting such a successful event.

The next Admissions Reception event is in Easton, Maryland on Tuesday, January 31 from 6pm-8pm. It will be held at the Koch Home:

28299 Old Country Club Road
Easton, MD 21601

We hope to see you there!

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Events, Uncategorized

Join Us for the Spring 2012 Fiction Writing Workshop with Richard Bausch April 8-15

The week-long workshop sponsored by the Cape Eleuthera Writers & Artist Workshop series will bring together a small group of adults interested in fiction writing to the Cape Eleuthera campus to work with celebrated author, Richard Bausch. Participants will further develop their writing by receiving expert feedback on their own manuscripts in a safe and constructive environment as well as by engaging in writing exercises, by considering issues of craft and of the writing life, and ultimately by cultivating a community based upon the shared love of writing. “Sense of place,” a concept deeply integral to the philosophy and mission of The Cape Eleuthera Island School, will be interwoven into the fabric of the week, both in the actual workshop activities and in “exploration time.” The workshop ultimately promises to be a perfect mix of instruction, inspiration, relaxation, and celebration of the art of fiction.

Highlights of the week include:

  • Intimate workshop experience with veteran writer, Richard Bausch
  • Individualized feedback on a manuscript
  • “Exploration time” to enjoy the beaches, waters, and Cape Eleuthera
  • All-day “Sense of Place” writing retreat at Lighthouse Beach
  • Optional afternoon activities, including SCUBA, snorkeling, and biking
  • Accommodations in the new state-of-the-art Hallig Lodge
  • Variety of evening social and literary events, including sunset cruise, “book club” with author, and catered final banquet

To learn more about the workshop, please click here.