McKinnons

McKinnons Pond is a former estuary of approximately 150 acres teeming with aquatic and avian life. Construction of a road and various hotels and restaurants along the shore has blocked the pond’s tidal exchange with the sea, changing the environment and killing many of the mangroves that grow at the edge of the pond. This exchange helped to reduce extreme variations in salt and temperature in the water and discharged pollution, all of which are crucial to maintaining healthy estuarine conditions. The former tidal connection allowed fish and lobster to use the calm waters as a nursery, which enhanced the local marine fishery.

Many bird species nest in mangroves and fish use the mangrove root structure as a nursery ground. Mangroves can withstand harsh conditions with no water exchange for a while, but not forever. The plant and animal life of McKinnons Pond has suffered from the surrounding development, raising concern from residents and the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) of Antigua.

Several island experts and concerned citizens, including Edgar Davis, have described factors contributing to the depletion of the pond’s mangrove population, pointing out that erosion, pollution, and unnatural landscape changes at McKinnons are the consequences of a kind of development that has occurred throughout Antigua. The plants and animals of the estuary, particularly the mangroves, are resilient and tolerate moderate fluctuations in conditions. Thus, there is hope that, with corrective actions, the ecosystem of McKinnons Pond can be restored and thrive.