ABSTRACT
It is easy to determine from what is known about The Bahamas that the ocean might play an integral role in the survival of its people. The case of Ragged Island, a quiet and serene little “bone fishing” village with an abundance of grouper, snappers, barracuda, tuna and king fish; hardy seafaring people, who build boats, sail sloops in regattas has perhaps lived in a “Blue” economy long before it was fashionable to be known as such.
Since the Hurricane of 2017 however, this quaint little island saw its very existence turned upside down. The island was so devastated that the Prime Minister declared it uninhabitable, calling on remaining resident to vacate for health and safety concerns.
Ragged Island is resilient and has the potential of becoming a major player in the Bahamian economy. By developing enabling mechanisms for the establishment of a vibrant “Blue Economy”, utilizing local expertise and its proximity in the Great Bahama Banks (one of the country’s richest fishing grounds), Ragged Island can and will be restored to its former glory.
