Turks and Caicos Islands

lobster and conch harvests have resulted in fishers giving more attention to reef and pelagic fisheries.
Climate change may prevent the use of this alternative resource as warmer waters could potentially alter
breeding and migration patterns and may drive pelagic species away from the tropics in search of cooler
temperatures, thereby impacting on local food security and sport-fishing activities.
Following Hurricanes Hannah and Ike, commercial fishers experienced damage or loss of fishing
infrastructure, which prevented or considerably hampered their fishing activities. Such damages included
structural and roof damage to three fish processing plants; lost or damaged boats and lost or damaged
traps. Furthermore power outages led to spoilage of some stock. Estimated economic losses to the fisheries
sector amounted to US $2,062,115.00 in total damage and losses (ECLAC, 2008). After the storms an
estimated 500 lobster traps/pots were abandoned and threatened to cause even further losses to fisheries
through ‘ghost fishing’. Extreme events are projected to intensify in coming years potentially causing severe
economic losses to the country’s most significant export sector and third most important industry.
Table 4.5.2: Total damage and loss in the fisheries subsector post Tropical Storm Hannah and Hurricane Ike
Area Damage Losses Total Damage & Losses
Providenciales $24,000 $40,000 $64,000
Grand Turk $130,000 $360,000 $490,000
South Caicos $678,115 $830,000 $1,508,115
TOTAL $832,115 $1,230,000 $2,062,115
( Source: ECLAC estimates based on official government data)
An additional concern is that warmer temperatures may increase the frequency of algal blooms as well as
the likelihood of ciguatoxin infection, a potentially fatal toxin to humans that accumulates in the tissues of
some species of fish (Confalonieri, Menne, Akhtar, Ebi, Hauengue, & Kovats, 2007; Tester, Feldman, Naua,
Kibler, & Litaker, 2010) (for further details, see Section 4.4.3). TCI’s fisheries is closely tied to the tourism
industry and as such negative impacts on one or both sectors could potentially devastate the island’s
economy and have severe social impacts for fishers, their families and communities .
Despite these concerns, little is understood about the long-term effects of climate change on Caribbean
fisheries. A report from the Marine Resource Governance in the Eastern Caribbean Project of the Centre for
Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) at the University of the West Indies has noted
that while the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems are well recognised, insufficient research
has been carried out into the potential impacts on fishing, fish processing, trade and fisheries technical
support services related to artisanal fisheries.
Although not confirmed as a climate change related event, large quantities of Sargassum seaweed have
been washing ashore on the islands of the Eastern Caribbean in July and August 2011. These floating mats
of vegetation arrive in the Caribbean region annually but this year (2011) they appear to be doing so in
unusually large quantities. Fishers are complaining that their nets and lines become entangled in the
Sargassum and there is concern over the risk of disease and invasive species that may accompany the
seaweed. The large volume and weight of seaweed washed up on some beaches poses a serious problem
for the tourism industry as well as a major expense and logistical challenge for governments who opt to
collect and dispose of the Sargassum. If this event is indeed related to cyclonic storms that have formed in
the Atlantic during the 2011 Hurricane Season, then coastal and marine environmental managers should
prepare for the likelihood of these events occurring with increased frequency in the near future.
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