Press Releases

Bahamian Ministers Tour U.S. Navy’s AUTEC Facility on Andros

September 28, 2007

On Wednesday, September 26 U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. D. Brent Hardt accompanied Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, The Honorable Lawrence S. Cartwright and the Minister of Lands and Local Government, The Honorable Sidney S. Collie and Director of Marine Resources Michael Braynen on a familiarization tour of the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island.  The visit included briefings on AUTEC’s environmental stewardship, their extensive sea life and coral reef monitoring efforts, the positive economic impact of the base in Andros, and AUTEC’s record of partnership with the local Andros community.

Officer-in-Charge, Commander Jeff Pafford; Mark Ciminello, AUTEC Staff Environmental Engineer; Tim Legel, Computer Science Corporation (CSC) Project Manager, and Conrad Fernander, General Manager, Bahamas Engineering Services & Technologies welcomed the Ministers to the base.  Chargé Hardt thanked the Ministers for their visit, which he hoped would enhance the government's understanding of AUTEC's operations and its role as a good corporate citizen in Andros.  He noted that the presence of marine mammal experts at AUTEC for cutting edge research made the visit particularly timely.  Commander Pafford expressed AUTEC’s appreciation for the government’s ongoing support.  He emphasized that one of AUTEC’s primary objectives is to protect the natural and environmental resources of The Bahamas.

The Ministers received a detailed report on the ongoing Marine Mammal Behavioral Response Study being conducted under the leadership of Dr. Ian Boyd of St. Andrews University in Scotland.  Dr. Boyd and his colleagues, including Bahamian Marine Mammal researcher Diane Claridge, highlighted the data collected during the initial weeks of the study and provided an overview of initial scientific findings.  The study is examining the effects of sonar and sound on marine mammals, such as the beaked whale, in the “tongue of the ocean” area.

Dr. Boyd provided the delegation with a high-tech display on how the study is conducted, allowing the Ministers to observe computer monitors as a research ship tracked sonar sounds produced by a beaked whale, sending back data from the undersea hydrophones to the research scientists at AUTEC.  Dr. Boyd was able to identify the type of mammal and even the type of activity, such as foraging or hunting prey, through the data and graphics displayed.  Scientists continue to study whether sonar or simply any novel sounds may have effects on the behavior of marine mammals, and what those effects may be.  In the absence of AUTEC's unique resources, their job would be much more difficult, he pointed out.

Mark Ciminello provided the Ministers with a detailed briefing on the extensive environmental protection and management policies in place at the facility, which meets both Bahamian and U.S. law and international standards.  Ciminello described an environmental review process encompassing all aspects of the facility’s operations, including groundwater protection and waste removal.  He described AUTEC’s commitment to the proper management of native flora and fauna, monitoring of sea life and coral reefs, as well as marine mammal monitoring.  He also noted that AUTEC conducts bi-annual coral reef assessments that are shared with the Bahamian authorities.  On-base efforts include protection of the nesting habitat of the West Indian Whistling Duck -- one of the rarest birds in the Americas -- and elimination of the intrusive Australian Pine, designated by the Bahamian government as undesirable.

Commander Pafford pointed out the ongoing American-Bahamian partnerships and the positive economic impact of the facility’s presence on Andros – from leasing, local purchases and some 200 jobs – totaling nearly 20 million dollars.  Tim Legel of CSC, and Conrad Fernander, himself an Androsian, elaborated on AUTEC’s summer internship and scholarship program.  They described their goal of putting as many Bahamians as possible into supervisory and management positions at the facility.  Both highlighted efforts to build awareness about career opportunities at AUTEC for young people to encourage them to return to Andros.  Ministers Collie and Cartwright welcomed the scholarship program and the many local connections and partnerships.

Caption:  From left seated at table - Tim Legel, AUTEC Staff Environmental Engineer; U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Dr. D. Brent Hardt; .Minister Sidney Collie; Commander Pafford; Minister Lawrence Cartwright; Michael Braynen, Director of Marine Resources, and Conrad Fernander, General Manager, Bahamas Engineering Services & Technologies.