September 29, 2026
Welcome On Board Shona, Ashley and Craig!
Friends of Exuma is glad to welcome three new directors to it’s board: Shona Perry, Ashley Stipes and Craig Stipes.
Our Partner
Moriah Harbour Cay National Park
Sixteen thousand acres of protected water and coastline in Exuma
Who They Are
Moriah Harbour Cay National Park is a protected area of approximately 16,800 acres in Exuma, established by the Government of The Bahamas in April 2002 and expanded in 2015. The park is managed by the Bahamas National Trust and protects a landscape and seascape that includes mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs, and cays that are essential to Exuma’s marine ecosystem.
The path to the park’s establishment began with the community. In the mid-1980s, an Exumian named Basil Minns, a birdwatcher, fisherman, and respected community member began asking his neighbours what would happen to Moriah Harbour Cay if no one moved to protect it. By the late 1990s, his campaign had drawn in students and adults across Exuma, all writing letters to the Prime Minister and other officials calling for the government to declare a national park. That campaign became law in April 2002.
Since 2021, the BNT has grown its on-the-ground presence in Great Exuma to expand the Park’s programs.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Friends of Exuma established the Harbour Fund in its earliest years to support MHCNP’s initiatives. In January 2024, the Harbour Fund helped fund the installation of a new mooring field across the Park and Elizabeth Harbour, an environmentally friendly system that protects the seagrass and reefs below from anchor damage. Through the Harbour Fund, your gift supports MHCNP’s continued work protecting the seagrass, coral reef, and mangrove ecosystems of Moriah Harbour Cay and its surrounding coastal habitats.
In their Words
"Friends of Exuma has provided transformative support for conservation of Elizabeth Harbour and Moriah Harbour Cay National Park through their Harbour Fund. Understanding the need to be responsive and timely in giving, as well as appreciating the variety of needs under the umbrella of conservation, makes the organization uniquely impactful in this work."
-Catherine Booker, Conservation Manager, Bahamas National Trust; Advisor to Friends of Exuma
Latest From MHCNP
June 30, 2026
Donor Spotlight: The Kieley Family
For Minnesota native and Friends of Exuma champion Margaret Kieley, Exuma is more than a favorite destination, it's a place...
Protect What Makes Exuma, Exuma
Your gift to Friends of Exuma’s Harbour Fund helps to keep Bahamian ecosystems healthy and accessible for the generations to come.
