Protecting the Exumas

SAVE THE NORTH BAY

Inappropriate development threatens to damage this pristine Bahamian paradise.

Developer Yntegra Group and Rosewood Hotel Group have brought in dredging and land-clearing equipment to damage the island and seagrass meadows for profit.

Sign the Petition to Halt Issuing Further Environmental Clearance for
Rosewood Hotels Yntegra  Project on Sampson Cay

Sign Petition

SPEAK OUT  TODAY

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

Help stop the destruction of the Exuma Cays, which NASA astronaut Scott Kelly called “the most beautiful place on Earth from space.”

Write a brief letter to the editor:

Letters@Tribunemedia.net

Editor@Nasguard.com

Learn more by watching the video below, and follow our latest updates and research on the Turtlegrass Facebook, Instagram and Vimeo.

Timeline of Recent Events
April 2022

Bahamas Investment Authority approves the acquisition of Big Sampson Cay by Turtlegrass Resort for development of an eco-friendly resort on the North Bay.

May 2023

The Bahamas Department of Environmental Protection and Planning (DEPP) issues Turtlegrass Resort a Certificate of Environmental Clearance, approving the plans for construction with specific instructions: “NO DREDGING”.

December 2023

Turtlegrass invests $2.5 million in pre-construction on Big Sampson Cay, prioritizing conservation and celebrating Bahamian culture.

January 2024

Yntegra announces it has leased Bahamian Crown Land on Big Sampson Cay, with plans for a high-density development requiring dredging seagrass meadows for a dock in the North Bay in front of the Turtlegrass Resort beaches.

April 2024

Turtlegrass halts investment in Phase II construction, citing environmental concerns over Yntegra’s development.

June 2024

Yntegra unveils a revised version of its controversial plans, including a North Bay supply dock and two east-facing harbors, increasing the environmental risks.

July 2024

Experts warn that Yntegra’s new plans would tear local ecosystems and create hazardous conditions, exposing boaters, residents and staff to dangerous tidal forces and high winds.

August 2024

Rosewood Hotels ignores expert warnings about the significant environmental impact of the Yntegra development and partners with Yntegra to operate the facility if it is constructed.

Untouched Seagrass Meadows:

The Fight to Protect the North Bay

The North Bay isn’t just a scenic stretch of water—it’s a critical marine habitat under siege by plans that would destroy its delicate balance.

Two key players are driving this threat:

  • Yntegra Group, an untested resort developer who has proposed a massive dredging project that would gut the seagrass meadows, destroy the island and disrupt marine life.
  • Rosewood Hotel Group has aligned itself with these plans, despite its reputation as a luxury brand that claims to respect nature.

We’re pushing back. Through scientific research, community advocacy and direct engagement with stakeholders, we’re making the case for protecting what should never be lost.


Sea turtle resting on sandy ocean floor covered with sparse green seagrass under clear blue water.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Underwater scene of a coral reef with various corals and a school of yellow fish swimming above the sandy ocean floor in clear blue water.
UNTOUCHED SEAGRASS MEADOWS

The Crown Jewel of the Caribbean

  • Seagrass meadows are lifelines for endangered sea turtles, offering them food and shelter.
  • These meadows serve as nurseries for conch, an iconic species essential to Bahamian culture and economy.
  • Seagrass captures carbon 35 times more efficiently than the Amazon rainforest, making it a powerful force in the fight against climate change.
  • This is sacred ground—an irreplaceable ecosystem that holds the balance of marine life in its roots.
THRIVING CORAL REEFS

Defying the Odds

  • These reefs provide sanctuary for rare fish species found nowhere else in the world.
  • While coral reefs vanish globally, the reefs of the Exumas remain a beacon of resilience and hope.
  • Divers and conservationists alike recognize these waters as one of the Caribbean’s last great marine treasures.
View of a turquoise sea with varying shades of blue, a white sandy beach, and green shrubbery in the foreground under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Turtlegrass Resort
NORTH BAY AT BIG SAMPSON CAY

A Rare Paradise Worth Protecting

  • Some places are too valuable to lose. North Bay is one of them.
  • By protecting this place, we preserve not just a beautiful destination but a vital stronghold for marine life and one of nature’s most powerful carbon sinks.
  • Our natural heritage is disappearing fast. The future of the Exumas depends on what we do today.
JOIN THE CAUSE

How You Can Help

  • Get involved. Get involved and sign our Change.org petition. Your voice matters in the fight to protect this beautiful place.
  • Stay informed. Follow our latest updates and research on the Turtlegrass Facebook, Instagram and Vimeo.
  • Raise awareness. Share this story with your community.
Turtlegrass Resort - Big Sampson Cay
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