Times of the Islands Summer 2020

DAVID GALLARDO
Top: The Turks & Caicos Reef Fund’s SCTL Disease Project Manager Alizee Zimmermann treats an infected coral head with an antibiotic
ointment.
Bottom: South Caicos residents discusss potential ecotourism business opportunities.
survey of all the reefs around East Caicos. The result was
the creation of a map of the underwater habitats and a set
of recommendations as to what areas should have protected
status. Those recommendations were developed
based on input from the residents of South Caicos who
frequently use the waters around East Caicos for fishing
and recreation. The protected area recommendations
were submitted to DECR for consideration before any
development begins on East Caicos.
Advocacy
Advocacy has been another major activity for the Turks
& Caicos Reef Fund over the years. One of our biggest
successes was stopping Dolphin Cove from building a
“swim with a captive dolphin” facility on Grand Turk and
KATHLEEN MCNARY WOOD
Ecotourism
Also on South Caicos we worked with interested individuals
on ideas for ecotourism businesses. Since the
unemployment and poverty rates are so high on that
island due to the lack of fishing jobs, it was important to
help find alternative employment opportunities for the
local residents. Ecotourism businesses are ideal since
so many residents know the waters around South and
East Caicos well. At the end of the project, TCRF had
five residents who were interested in starting ecotourism
businesses on South Caicos, and we assisted with
drafting of initial marketing plans. The ideas included two
home-stay opportunities, a bonefishing kayak business,
kayak tours and boat ecotours.
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