Coral Propagation at Forfar Field Station: Update, October 2018

On October 22-23, 2018, Reef Rescue Network and staff from Forfar Field Station on Andros braved the high seas of the Tongue of the Ocean to complete the outplanting of Acropora fragments back to the local reef. 

Despite the far from optimal weather conditions, the crew ventured out beyond the reef crest of the Andros fringing-barrier reef to the coral propagation site. There, the divers, armed with loppers and milk crates, descended to the nursery. While half the divers were trimming fragments of Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis), the other half was roaming around underneath them catching the fragments with the crates. Divers then returned to the surface to drop off the full crates to the surface crew, who counted and carefully moved each fragment in a cooler full of sea water. The team then moved to the chosen outplanting site, Strings Quartet, on the back side of the reef. There, the divers went back down and attached the fragments using marine epoxy onto different rocks within the reef. The weather took a turn to the worst, with heavier winds and rain, preventing the team from getting back onto the reef and consequently forcing them to head back to the station to try again the next morning with the hope of better weather conditions.

The following day the team was met with a similar forecast, which once again didn’t stop both divers and surface crew. This time they readjusted their strategy: they outplanted 50 fragments of both Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and Fused Staghorn coral (Acropora prolifera) directly to the reef adjacent to the nursery to minimize stress factors for the coral. After a well-deserved lunchbreak on the nearby deserted and idyllic Pigeon Cay, the team headed back out for two more dives. They collected 39 more fragments of both coral types and outplanted them to another site along the reef called A-flats.

Overall, these two intense days of fieldwork resulted in the outplanting of 126 Acropora fragments to the local reefs with the hope that they will grow strong and healthy. In the meantime, Forfar staff will be busy in the next upcoming weeks, trimming the remaining fragments of Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) from the nursery and outplanting them to Strings Quartet. It was a great two days of helping the Andros coral reef with amazing team work from both parties. Forfar staff loved getting out on the water while learning and gaining experience in coral reef restoration techniques.  We look forward to collaborating again with Reef Rescue Network coordinator, Haley Jo Carr, in the following year for the next outplanting trip.

Written By: Anna Safryghin, Forfar Educational Staff

Your Guide to Reef Safe Sunscreen

Did you know that chemical-based sunscreens can be incredibly harmful to coral reefs and marine species?

Sunscreens can contain two different forms of active ingredients to protect our skin, mineral and chemical filters. The sunscreens containing chemical filters including Oxybenzone (aka benzophenone), Butylparaben, Octinoxate, and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor have been found to negatively affect coral reefs and marine ecosystems - and in some cases, even human health. 

According to 2016 research in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, oxybenzone and octinoxate, causes coral bleaching and damages corals their ability to reproduce. When corals bleach they lose or expel the algae living inside them, losing a valuable source of nutrition. With 4,000-6,000 tons of sunscreen washing into our oceans every year, these chemicals are causing widespread damage (Downs et al. 2016).

Organizations worldwide have been inspired to take action to limit the use of these chemicals in sunscreens. In July 2018, Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Eco-conscious companies are starting to make changes too; REI have promised to ban the use of oxybenzone in all their products by fall 2020. 

Craig Downs, researcher and Executive Director of a the scientific non-profit Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, spoke out on the importance of proper sunscreen use, explaining, “We have lost at least 80 percent of the coral reefs in the Caribbean. Any small effort to reduce oxybenzone pollution could mean that a coral reef survives a long, hot summer, or that a degraded area recovers" (Kotala 2015).

In an effort to conserve our coral reefs and the environment of Andros, IFS will not allow guests to use sunscreens with unsafe chemicals. We aim to protect the reefs of Andros so future generations of students can continue using the space to learn and explore. It's important to remember we can all create sustainable habits to support large scale conservation efforts, and proper sunscreen use is an easy place to start. 

Reef Safe Sunscreen Guidelines

• Don't use sunscreens that contain: Oxybenzone, Butylparaben, Octinoxate, or 4-methylbenzylidene camphor.

• Do use mineral based sunscreens with coated, non-nano ingredients like titanium oxide or zinc oxide like the ones found here and here. Also, check out the Environmental Working Groups Guide to Sunscreens.

• Avoid using spray sunscreens; aerosol products also hurt our environment.

• Wear clothing that protects from the sun; UV t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, hats and rash guards.

• Take a look at some of our favorite brands; All Good, Reef Repair, Sea2Stream and Raw Elements.

Thank you for understanding and taking steps to conserve the reefs of Andros! 

Purchasing items from the links above will help support International Field Studies, Inc. as we get a small percentage of the purchase price.

Bats have returned to Morgan's Cave!

As some of our alumni may remember, there used to be bats present at Morgans Cave. The number of bats would vary from large groups (100+) to smaller groups (just a few), but in recent years we haven't seen any bats at the cave. We're not sure what the cause of this is, but the good news is that they are back!

Morgan’s Cave - North Andros

Morgan’s Cave - North Andros

Morgan’s Cave - North Andros

While visiting Morgan's Cave in mid-June with a group our staff noticed the presence of 15+ bats roosting. This caused a change of plans and the group was notified about the roosting bats and that they would no longer be entering the cave. The bats returning to Morgan's Cave is a sign of a healthy ecosystem and we're happy that the bats have been spotted at the cave again. 

To protect the bats located in Morgan's Cave,  we will no longer be taking groups inside. Groups can still view the cave from the perimeter but everyone will need to keep a sufficient distance so the bats are not disturbed. We've also stopped taking groups to the "Bat Cave" which is also near Morgan's Cave due to fear of disturbing their habitat and the possibility of spreading white-nose syndrome. Although white-nose syndrome has not been detected in the Bahamas yet, we are still taking precautions. If you aren't familiar with white-nose syndrome, information can be found at Bat Conservation International.

View fullsize

View fullsize

There have been 15 different species of bats found in the Bahamas, but two of these are only known from fossils, and an additional three species are documented from single specimens (which are likely vagrants that do not represent resident populations in the Bahamas). This leaves the current count of Bahamas bat species at 10 (Speer et al., 2015).  The evolutionary history of Bats in the Bahamas is also an interesting one.  DNA suggests that there are two sources of bats (Florida for the northern Bahamas and the Greater Antilles for the southern Bahamas) with a gene flow barrier occurring at the New Providence Channel. (Reed 2016).

Waterhouse's leaf‐nosed bat (Macotus waterhousii) have been seen in the "Bat Cave" but we're still unsure what type of bats have repopulated Morgan's Cave.  The Bahamian Funnel-eared Bat (Chilonatalus tumidifrons) is the only endemic bat of the Bahamas occurring on Abaco, Andros, and San Salvador.  They are susceptible to disturbance due to their narrow range and small colony size and are considered to be a threatened species.  Since there is a possibility the bats in Morgan's Cave could be the Bahamian Funnel-eared bats, it is extremely important that we do what we can to promote the well-being of these bats.

We will continue to monitor the activity of the bats when we are in the area and will provide you with additional updates if the situation changes. 

CAHS Scholarship Fund Recipients

Have you ever purchased a t-shirt from Forfar? If so, give yourself a pat on the back. You're part of the reason that we're able to provide college scholarships to local high school students on Andros and we couldn't do it without you!

All profit from sales of our t-shirts at the field station are pooled into a scholarship fund that we disperse to local Andros high schoolers once per year. These scholarships are used to help fund continuing education for the students and are typically awarded to graduating Seniors. 

IFS is proud to announce the Forfar Scholarship Fund recipients for 2018. Congratulations to Destiny Adderley, Ashley Sargent, DVonya Saunders, and Micaiah Miller.  All four of the students are from Central Andros High School. This year we were able to provide $2,000 in funding which was split between the 4 students. 

Destiny Adderley plans to pursue her dream of studying chemistry and forensic science. Ashley Sargent has been accepted as a student at Bethune University in Daytona, Florida and plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry. DVonya Saunders plans to attend the University of the Bahamas and become a future mathematics teacher or professor. Micaiah Miller has been accepted as a student at Miami Dade college and will be pursuing her dream of being a doctor of pediatric medicine. 

We wish the recipients of the scholarship fund the best as they continue their education and pursue their personal and professional dreams!

Your Guide to International Medical, Travel, and Dive Insurance

Updated: 1/15/2025

Required International Medical Insurance

International Field Studies requires any guest participating in activities at Forfar Field Station to have international medical insurance. Some medical insurance plans provide international coverage, but many do not.

Make sure to check with your healthcare provider to confirm that your plan includes the following:

• International coverage

• Medical evacuation (you will be staying on Andros, Bahamas)

• Major medical benefits

If your healthcare provider does not cover you, or you’re without health insurance, you must seek out an insurance company or policy that cover you the entire length of your visit. As a nonprofit, we do not offer any insurance plans and we cannot recommend any as it is not our area of expertise. IFS does not endorse or recommend the following options, but we wanted to share some resources other travels have used in an effort to save time and assist your travel needs. Those options are: United Healthcare, International Student Insurance, International Student Protection, INext International Travel Protection.

Travel Insurance

IFS strongly recommends travel insurance. Be sure to check with your provider to see their policies regarding flight changes, cancellations, and COVID-19. The landscape of travel insurance has changed due to COVID-19 so we suggest reading reviews from other customers, speaking directly with an insurance provider on the phone, and taking sufficient time to research which option is best for you. Insuremytrip offers an overview of different companies and may be a good starting point for research. Other resources include: RCM&D Travel Protection, INext International Travel Protection, International Student Insurance, International Student Protection.

Additionally, some credit card companies offer trip insurance as one of their benefits. It may be beneficial to check with your credit card company to see what type of insurance they may offer.

Hurricane season in The Bahamas lasts from June to the end of November. Groups visiting during this time frame should strongly consider the additional coverage. If your group will be in The Bahamas during hurricane season, the National Weather Service can provide further insight or any necessary precaution.

Travel to Forfar will be suspended if there is any travel bans issued by the CDC or Department of State for The Bahamas. Contact your Group Leader or the IFS office with any questions regarding the cancellation terms specific to your group.

Dive Insurance

Forfar Field Station is located in a very rural area (Andros, Bahamas) and the nearest hospital and hyperbaric pressure chamber are located in Nassau. In a dive emergency, every second counts and life-flight transportation will likely need to be used. Diving accidents are rarely covered by general health insurance and/or travel insurance policies. The policies that do cover dive accidents usually provide minimal reimbursement and if there is an accident, you will be responsible for the majority (if not all) of the related fees and charges. 

For certified divers who plan to dive at Forfar Field Station, dive insurance is not required but is strongly encouraged. If you are receiving any dive certifications at Forfar or are apart of our Forfar Marine Science Program, then dive insurance is required. 

We recommend that all divers purchase DAN diving insurance prior to their trip to the field station. DAN offers a low cost and highly respected dive insurance policy that is regarded as the gold standard among divers. DAN has over 250,000 active members and over 30 years of experience helping divers. Annual plans start as low as $40 per individual and $60 per family (prices are subject to change). DAN Benefits include $100,000 Medical Evacuation, TravelAssist, and a 24/7 Emergency Hotline. Other dive insurance providers include World Nomads and Dive Assure. 

While we do not anticipate you will have a need for dive insurance at Forfar because our number one goal is safety, diving is an inherently risky activity and accidents can happen.  It is better to have the insurance and not need it than to be without it when you do.

U.S. Department of State - STEP Program

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Where are they now? A Spotlight on Previous Interns - Johnny Rader!

conducting sand dollar RESEARCH on sanibel island

Meet the wonderful Johnny Rader!

Johnny spent two and a half years from 2012 to 2015 at Forfar Field Station! His shared love for the ocean and marine creatures (his favorite are nudibranchs - check it out) made his passion for ocean conservation and education into a career!

Johnny reflected on the practical and boating skills he learned during his time on Andros, but emphasized the importance of the teaching skills he acquired from his experience, and access to visiting professors and educators. 

Mist netting on andros island

Now, as an outdoor marine educator, Johnny shares his love for marine invertebrates and birds with his students! From Forfar to Sanibel Island, he is continuing to teach about ocean conservation to young and bright minds to help protect the planet for them and future generations.

When he is not sharing his love for the ocean with his students at Sanibel Sea School, Johnny loves diving in the Florida Keys and at Blue Heron Bridge. You'll find him with a nudibranch in hand and "a pair of 'binoc' to [his] face."

Way to go, Johnny! As an ambassador for ocean conservation, IFS is so proud to have helped you pursue your passion, keep up the good work!