• Things You Can Do
• Ocean Voices

1. Letters from the President

Nikita in the field with a Young Marine Explorer in the Bahamas. Photo Credit: Ryan Winder

“… it is easier to motivate children and youth to form sustainable living habits than it is for adults. I hope that my students take with them that as an individual they have the power to create change and they should use that power carefully and for the greater good.” – Nikita Shiel-Rolle

SeaWeb: When and how did you start to develop a passion for the ocean?

Nikita Shiel-Rolle: I fell in love with the ocean when I was 13.  I was working on a snorkel boat at a dive company in Nassau, it was the summer job of my dreams. It was during that summer that I realized how important the Bahamian environment was to the Bahamian economy and to the future of the country. That same year I became an Open Water SCUBA diver and each following year I obtained another certification. I was enamored with coral reefs. All throughout high school I worked at the same dive company and the many hours spent under water made me decide that I would be an influential force in ensuring that there would be an environmentally sustainable Bahamas.

SW: Tell us about the organization you founded, Young Marine Explorers (YME).

NSR: Young Marine Explorers is a non-profit organization that aspires to provide transformational experiences for Bahamian youth by introducing them to the Bahamian environment. It is based on the understanding that experiential learning forms unforgettable memories. YME introduces leadership development and core science principles into fun inspirational classes and excursions.  Part of the mission of YME is to develop leaders that will shape the future of the Bahamas.

Nikita Shiel-Rolle teaching her Young Marine Explorers about mangroves in the Bahamas. Photo Credit: Ryan Winder.

SW: How did you decide that you wanted to start this program, and what was it like creating this organization?

NSR: When I was in high school and decided that I wanted to be a Marine Biologist I did not receive much encouragement; many Bahamians felt that it was a waste of my time to study the marine sciences and that there would be no real use for it in the Bahamas. Remembering the challenges I received when I wanted to begin my career in marine biology and understanding how important the Bahamian environment is I wanted to create a program that would inspire others to share my same passion for the ocean.

YME began as an idea that found a lot of momentum and once started I couldn’t stop it. Starting the organization when I was in university was a challenge. I was so passionate and driven that now when I look back on it I don’t think I realized what I was doing. I was funded by The Danguillecourt Project (now the Bahamas Marine Eco Center) and travelled back and forth between Miami and Nassau every other week to run after school programs and leadership workshops. Still a full time student my grades suffered slightly but I felt that starting this non-profit and the impact that I was having on the youth in the Bahamas was more important than getting straight A’s. To this day I feel like I made the right decision.

Reef Shark from Nikita's book, 'Islands of the Sun: A Tribute to the Northern Exuma Cays, Bahamas.' Photo Credit: Nikita Shiel-Rolle.

SW: In addition to running YME, you’re an accomplished author and photographer. What inspired you to publish “Islands of the Sun: A tribute to the Northern Exuma Cays Bahamas” and how did you go about completing this process?

NSR: When I started working with The Danguillecourt Project (TDP), there was an ongoing project in honor Jacki and Sergio Danguillecourt who passed away in a seaplane crash in 2005. This couple was extremely supportive of scientific research taking place throughout the Exuma Cays and the founder of TDP wanted to produce something in their honor.  I became involved in the brainstorming of this idea and shared that I was a photographer.  From that day my co-author and I began exploring the Exuma cays in search of critters from bugs to sharks to photograph and become part of the book “Islands of the Sun”.  

SW: Where do you see YME and yourself in the future?

NSR: It is an aspiration of mine that YME will become an international organization running similar programs in island and coastal communities throughout the world. I hope to open a Marine Science Institute in the Bahamas that will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees.

SW: In your opinion, do the Bahamian people understand the importance of protecting their environment or is this a concept that is recently gaining some acceptance?

NSR: I think there is still a huge disconnect between the importance of the Bahamian environment and our future ability to continue living and reaping the benefits of the environment. I think the concept of environmental conservation is slowly gaining momentum however I think it is still an abstract concept for many Bahamians.  There is still much conservation work to be done in the Bahamas.

SW: How important is youth engagement in the wider scope of ocean conservation and what do you hope your students will take with them as they move forward in the world?

NSR: I think youth engagement is vital in the wider scope of ocean conservation. For a change to occur and sustainable conservation efforts to thrive, a foundation in environmental education is required. The reality of the situation is that it is easier to motivate children and youth to form sustainable living habits than it is for adults. I hope that my students take with them that as an individual they have the power to create change and they should use that power carefully and for the greater good. I would be thrilled to see some of my students become marine biologists however it is most important for me that regardless of what field they enter they take with them their passion for the ocean and remember that they are ambassadors of the environment.