Swimmers Dive into Action at 4th Annual Swim for the Sanctuary

The Jamaica Inn Foundation (JIF) is hosting its 4th Annual Open Water Swim, “Swim for the Sanctuary,” on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the White River House beach, located east of Shaw Park Beach Hotel in Ocho Rios.

Races will commence at 7:30 a.m. and swimmers of all levels are being invited to participate in races of varying distances for individuals (500m, 1km, 3km, 5km) and a 4X100m sprint relay as well as a 500m paddleboard race. Entry fees are J$2800 per race for Jamaican residents and US$55 (under 20 years) and US$80 (over 20 years) for international participants.

The event has again been endorsed and sanctioned by the ASAJ (Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica) and the Jamaica Tourist Board, as well as by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

A number of our core sponsors have already “jumped into the water,” including Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) who are on board as Title Sponsor of the Event for the second year. Other sponsors include Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance, JTB and Couples Resorts at the Gold level and Wysynco and Massy Distributors at the Silver level. Iron Rock Insurance, One Great Studio, Marksman, S Hotels Jamaica, Smatt’s Rum, Rainforest Seafoods, Proforma Marketing, Mr. Rehab and Jamaica Inn are all Bronze sponsors.

All funds raised will enable the White River Fish Sanctuary (WRFS) to continue its vitally important Protect, Restore and Engage work. The results from their 2022 marine assessment highlighted a 55% increase in fish size; 47% increase in fish numbers in its first 5 years of operation.

Protect: The WRFS is a designated “Special Fishery Conservation Area” off the coast of Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Since its first patrol in November 2017, the fish population and other marine life has increased dramatically. The wardens are from the local community and are fully invested in its success.

Restore: Due to excessively warm water in 2023, all reefs in Jamaica suffered a massive die off. To counter this, the WRFS has, through long distance swimming, mapped most of the few remaining corals. They are actively micro-fragmenting these, such that they have over 1000 ramlets in in-situ nurseries of these critically endangered species from across 50 different lineages.

Engage: Successful conservation of Jamaica’s coastal ecosystems and their importance to marine wildlife and pollution. The children are the future, and their understanding of the problems will lead to successful conservation tomorrow.

In addition the WRFS is gearing up to combat the pollution of the upper White River watershed through eliciting environmental stewardship; engaging schools, communities and businesses on the river as well as helping to create a Youth Board to take “ownership” and pride in the health of the river.

Media Contact:  Lou Hammond Group [email protected]