Swim for the Sanctuary bigger this year

CAN’T swim? No problem. Grab a life vest and start paddle-boarding, one of the events added to the second annual Jamaica Inn Foundation’s Swim for the Sanctuary, now extended to two days, November 5-6, at White River House, Shaw Park Beach, Ocho Rios, St Ann.

“We have challenges for all skill levels and age groups. Lots of activities will be held over the two days, including a paddleboard event,” beamed Kyle Mais, director, Jamaica Inn Foundation, who regularly paddle-boards to work, reducing his carbon footprint, keeping in line with marine preservation’s new buzzword, the ‘blue economy’.

Returning bigger and better, as promised last year while the country was still under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the hugely successful open-water event benefiting the White River Fish Sanctuary, launched last Wednesday at Spanish Court Hotel in St Andrew, has turned ‘pro’ with a 3K and 5K swim on day two, which meet director Alan Beckford said has attracted overseas entries.

“The aim, within another year, is to have 200 to 300 overseas entrants. What we are trying to achieve is to make Swim for the Sanctuary an international event on the FINA (International Swimming Federation) calendar, having already satisfied about 80 to 90 per cent of the rules,” Beckford pointed out.

In addition to paddleboarding, day one will feature races for all age groups at 500 metres, 1K, 2K and 4x100 metres relays.

Last year’s event was heavily supported by Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica-affiliated clubs, which Mais hopes will be no different for the second staging, considering how difficult it is to raise funds for the fish sanctuary.

“The sanctuary has been a very challenging activity to fund. Jamaica Inn has partners such as the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Couples and Sandals, who set aside specific sums annually. However, other activities such as Swim for the Sanctuary and the backgammon tournament we stage are very important and necessary aspects of what we do,” Mais emphasised.

Established five years ago by the Jamaica Inn Foundation, in tandem with the area’s fishers’ association, the White River Fish Sanctuary is a no-take zone of 370 acres, covering approximately three and a half miles of coastline from St Ann to St Mary.

Belinda Collier-Morrow, co-chair, White River Fish Sanctuary, said the foundation is on target to surpass its five-in-five target of increasing the sanctuary’s fish biomass by 500 per cent in five years as it seeks to protect marine life, restore the coral reefs, and engage citizens on its importance to their livelihoods.

Debra Lopez-Spence of gold sponsor Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance highlighted the importance of swimming as a necessary life skill and healthy lifestyle, which Rojah Thomas of platinum sponsor Caribbean Producers endorsed, humorously pointing out that since last year’s Swim for the Sanctuary he has learnt to float.

Fiona Fennell of the Jamaica Tourist Board wished everybody well on the waters, declaring she will be cheering from the shore, but might consider a paddleboard.