Times of the Islands Spring 2023

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green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources process, and it depends on how many larvae and nutrients are in the water—relatively few in TCI’s clean, clear water. That’s why the Reef Balls I saw weren’t exactly covered in coral during my recent visit, six years after their 2016 installation. I did see some small yet promising corals growing from the balls, and several fish swimming in and out of the holes, but it will take several more years before the corals grow enough to obscure the Reef Balls beneath. The first use of Reef Balls in the Turks & Caicos Islands was in the Grace Bay area in the late 1990s. In a project funded by the Turks & Caicos National Trust, Reef Balls were used to create snorkel trails through Smith’s Reef and Bight Reef to guide snorkelers and minimize coral damage. Shortly afterward, the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources created a separate artificial reef nearby, reducing stress on Smith’s and Bight Reefs by drawing tourists away. Since then, Reef Innovations has installed thousands of Reef Balls at sites all over the Islands. Most are off of Providenciales, with a few around Grand Turk or smaller islands like Pine Cay. Some are used to transplant corals that are under threat from new construction projects. Others, like the one off Malcolm’s Road Beach, are intended to protect the shore from storms, floods, and erosion—with the added benefit of creating new coral habitat. Paddling over those Reef Balls gave me mixed feelings. On one hand, it was a sobering reminder of why we need artificial reefs: because natural reefs are struggling, and (let’s be honest) it’s our fault. But at the same time, it gave me hope. Seeing a thousand Reef Balls sitting patiently beneath the water, with young corals making their tentative way out of the concrete, reminded me that there are plenty of people who love the ocean as much as I do, and they’re doing everything they can to protect it. a Rachel Craft is a Colorado-based writer and recovered engineer who loves all things outdoors. When she’s not busy exploring, she writes fantasy and sci-fi stories for children. You can learn more about her at www.racheldelaneycraft.com. 38 www.timespub.tc
green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources SHUTTERSTOCK This Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) assumes a stationary, head-up position with its mouth open, a common pose at cleaning stations, as gobies (Gobiosoma spp., indicated by arrows) give the inside of its mouth a good clean. Cleaning Stations: The five-star marine restaurant and spa. By Hope Milo, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia ~ Edited by C.E. O’Brien, Ph.D., both from The School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands Coral reefs are well known for their abundance and biodiversity, teeming as they are with multitudes of organisms hovering over heads of flower coral or ducking inside tunnels and hidey holes. In studying these bastions of diversity, researchers have discovered similarities between these marine ecosystems and our own bustling towns and cities. Times of the Islands Spring 2023 39
Page 1 and 2: TIMES OF THE SAMPLING THE SOUL OF T
Page 4 and 5: contents Departments 6 From the Edi
Page 6: from the editor ERIC GORSKI Besides
Page 9 and 10: Everything’s Included For Everyon
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Page 18 and 19: TIMES OF THE ISLANDS MANAGING EDITO
Page 20 and 21: Commitment turns implausible dreams
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Page 26 and 27: ook review The Last Resort Raising
Page 28 and 29: creature feature KELLY CURRINGTON R
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Page 55 and 56: feature Opposite page: Bees work to
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