Above: Fabien Cousteau with one of the Discovery Club members (BIS Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A recent incident that saw a boat run aground into a coral reef in Exuma led to a visit this weekend by noted oceanographic explorer Fabien Cousteau.

Cousteau, the grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the son of Jean-Michel Cousteau, visited George Town to explore ways to restore the reef, joined by a group of local students.

The French explorer, along with members of his Plant a Fish organization, the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas National Trust, focused on the area just near Guana Cay and Fowl Cay.

“I am blessed to be here in Exuma, because it is a beautiful place which unfortunately had an accident in the National Park recently, when a boat struck a coral reef,” he said. “And I feel that human beings, if we break something, we need to fix it, especially in the natural world.”

A group of 14 student members of the Bahamas National Trust Discovery Club snorkeled with Cousteau at the reef.

“It is very important for me to know about the environment so I can help protect it, especially the coral reefs,” said Stephen Miller, 10, a member of the club.

Cousteau was invited by the Elizabeth Conservation Group.