Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - October 2018

— Continued from previous page
On the other side of Grenada, in Sauteurs, the government has taken a more
traditional approach to coastline protection. In early 2017 the beach had eroded so
far that the line of businesses between the beach and the main road were at risk.
A development company was commissioned by the government to build a breakwater,
currently almost 800 feet long, with an access road of a similar length. The
commissioned project is an additional 100 feet, soon to be completed. There are
plans for an additional leg to be added, which would create a more protected
anchorage and create potential for a marina development, a project that would
require private investors.
In the meantime, the corner formed by the breakwater and access road, the eastern
end of the bay, has quickly filled in and created a wide and growing beach area.
The lagoon created by the breakwater was dredged to create a comfortable anchorage,
although it is hard to tell if shoaling continues, and at what rate. Locals are
excited at the prospect of visiting yachtspeople, and are happy to have a spacious,
sandy beach in town.
But all that sand for the growing beach ultimately comes from somewhere — in
this case, the western end of the bay where a small number of houses are affected.
It is unknown whether this was anticipated, but a Jamaican coastal environmental
engineering company was hired to assess the situation in early 2018. They recommended
building groins along the western end to mitigate the effects, although gov-
Give and take: After construction of a breakwater in Sauteurs, Grenada, sand
quickly filled in and created a wide beach area (below). At Lighthouse Bay, Barbuda,
the shoreline gradually receded and eventually the main hotel building
was unsettlingly close to the water’s edge (right)
ernment approval, and presumably further funding, is still required. (For navigational
info on anchoring in Sauteurs, along with details on services, restaurants, and
nearby attractions, check out next month’s edition of Compass or purchase the 2019-
2020 edition of Chris Doyle’s Cruising Guide to the Windward Islands.)
Challenges Ahead
This illustrates many of the challenges related to responsible coastline development,
where the importance of accurate historical data and knowledge of coastal
processes is paramount in avoiding unintended negative effects. Data availability in
itself is a huge hurdle; historical data of sediment transport patterns is often inaccurate
and/or incomplete, or the length of the data record is too short, especially in
small developing nations. Stakeholders affected aren’t always those with the most
influence; among the government, private development companies, tourism sectors,
and the local population, those who have the most to lose are hardly ever those who
have the most control.
When it comes to the ocean’s forces there is no such thing as a “sure thing”, but
we can question decisions, and we can take every opportunity make sure our voices
are heard and that stakeholders are represented. We can encourage informed decisions
by asking the hard questions; when it comes to coastline development and
erosion, what can be done? And more importantly, what should be done? When is it
okay to influence natural cycles? How do we know if our efforts will have a positive
outcome? Are the potential benefits worth the potential drawbacks? Who benefits?
Who suffers? Who is accountable?
If you have concerns over specific coastline development projects or have been
noticing significant erosion, please contact local ministries of tourism, environmental
groups, non-government organizations, and/or groups involved with climate
change research. Especially in secluded areas that are only accessible by boat, governments
and other agencies may not be aware of even major changes, let alone the
subtle ones that are often witnessed by cruisers’ unique perspective. The Caribbean
and small island developing states are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and
there are endless research studies being conducted at any given time. For a list of
government environmental and conservation agency websites and contact information,
listed by island, visit https://earthdirectory.net/caribbean#agencies.
Lexi Fisher is a writer and partner in Chris Doyle’s Cruising Guides. The 2019-2020
Windward Islands edition, which includes a new chapter on Sauteurs, will be available
from chandleries in November, or online from www.cruisingguides.com. The
guide’s new information about Sauteurs as a yacht spot will also be published in next
month’s issue of Compass.
OCTOBER 2018 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 27
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