Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT)

ANCAT’s Mission

To protect, preserve, enhance, and restore the natural resources of Andros Island and its marine environment through education, conservation and management for future generations.

History of ANCAT

The Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, founded in 1999 to protect, preserve, enhance, and restore Andros Island’s natural resources and marine environment for future generations. ANCAT was initially formed in 1997 by a group of concerned local government representatives, bonefishing guides, and resort owners who felt the need for greater local and national commitment to preserve Andros’ vulnerable natural resources. We are governed by a ten member Board of Directors comprised of a cross-section of local community members.

Over the years our major accomplishments have included helping achieve protection status for grouper spawning aggregations, assisting in establishing the 283,000 acre Central Andros National Park System, and in obtaining and implementing conservation projects in the Central Andros National Parks. Our strength lies in working at both the grass-roots level to involve local communities in conservation efforts, and in partnering with a variety of national and international partners.

Andros Island is the largest island of the Bahamian archipelago; its land area is greater than that of all the other Bahamian islands combined. Andros Island’s diverse ecosystems include freshwater and marine blue holes, the coral barrier reef, extensive mangrove flats, tidal creeks, wetlands and extensive pine forests. While the island’s abundance of natural resources and endangered species make it a conservation priority; its low human population density and broad local support for such action presents a great opportunity to advance protection efforts.

Andros is 100 miles long and 45 miles wide. North and Central Andros are separated from South Andros by three tidal creeks - North, Middle and South Bights. The eastern shoreline of Andros is bordered by the Tongue of the Ocean, a 6,000 feet deep abyss that separates Andros from New Providence. A fringing barrier reef runs for more than 120 miles along the Tongue of the Ocean. The western side of the island is surrounded by shallow waters overlying the Great Bahama Bank.