Times of the Islands Winter 2019/20

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
This image was taken in 2018 when the estuary between McCartney Cay and Hog Cay, one of the longest mangrove channels in the country,
was completely closed off with sargassum.
AGILE LEVIN
anyone interested, and a standardised method for collecting,
weighing and sorting the seaweed. This also enabled
identification of any other materials, such as plastics and
other inorganic matter, as well as other types of seaweed
and sea grass that could affect options for more sustainable
methods of disposal. Our work was carried out to the
sounds of the waves beaching themselves on the rocks—
exceeding our expectations of a science lab!
A quick trip to Grand Turk completed our tour of TCI,
enabling us to begin to understand the diversity of these
islands. Unfortunately there was simply not enough time
to visit Middle or North Caicos. Grand Turk was a real
contrast, with the historical buildings of Cockburn Town
dating from the period when the salt industry was highly
profitable. The relic salt pans were of particular interest,
evidence of the island’s industrial heritage but now hosting
internationally important populations of birds, many
of them migratory waders, attractive to bird watchers.
We enjoyed the peace and quiet and the opportunity to
watch pelicans and flamingos until there was a burst of
38 www.timespub.tc