A project that is geared at providing training and assistance to local fishermen to breed spiny lobsters in the TCI has officially been completed.
The initiative which was funded by a $65,000 grant from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reached completion on Wednesday (August 6).
Experts in lobster habitat MerAngel Ecological Services held seminars and workshops on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Providenciales to teach fishermen and Government employees how to design, build and deploy the habitats.
Artificial lobster habitats have been proven to increase the abundance and biomass of lobsters in areas where habitat is limited.
Given the recent decreases in catch numbers of the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in TCI, often attributed locally to the reduction in quality and quantity of habitat resulting from damage caused by hurricanes Hannah and Ike, it is hoped that the long-term benefit of the project will be the improved sustainability of lobster stocks in the Islands’ waters.
The training was split between information seminars and hands-on habitat design and construction workshops, and participants from the local fishing community learned about lobster life cycle, behaviour, food preferences and optimal casita placement.
The ‘hands on’ aspect of the project also provided instruction in the construction and maintenance of the artificial habitats using readily available and cost-effective materials.
The design of the habitats incorporates long lasting materials that will eventually turn into reef-like structures, and the end products are primarily geared towards use by juvenile lobsters.
Such a strategy of ‘juvenile protection’ is intended to enable more lobsters to reach maturity, which in turn should facilitate higher levels of reproduction.
In total, 42 fishermen, water sports operators and government employees attended the seminars and workshops, with 100 habitats being constructed and 11 demonstration sites mapped on the Caicos and Turks Banks.
Two fishermen from South Caicos were also trained on how to deliver workshops of their own.
Kathleen Wood, director of the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), said that this project was initiated following requests from the TCI fishing community and, as far as she was aware, this is the first time that any fisheries project has been undertaken exclusively for their benefit.
“The results were telling; the fishermen were enthusiastic, engaged in the process and committed to continuing to build additional habitats on their own time, indicating their genuine concern for the welfare of the lobster stocks in TCI.
“The participants demonstrated a real willingness to engage in stewardship for the resources upon which their livelihoods depend, and this is an ethic that DEMA is seeking to foster across the wider community with our Community Conservation Partner Programme.”
She said that everyone is responsible for the fate of TCI’s fragile environment, and should take responsibility to ensure its protection.
“This landmark project would not have been possible without the support of the FCO,” she said.
“The current FCO representation in TCI has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to engage in and support environmental initiatives, and their continual support of DEMA and DEMA projects has been critical in helping our department to achieve its mandate in these difficult financial times. We are grateful to them.
“I trust that with my resignation from DEMA, they will continue to work with the department to foster the sustainable management of TCI’s threatened natural environment.”
Marsha Pardee, lead contractor from MerAngel Ecological Services, said that the project workshops were geared toward the fishermen and other interested entities.
“It is really about the preservation and sustainability of our lobster fishery resource, an important part of the local economy.
“We feel the project has been a good first step in encouraging practical and cost effective ways in which people can ‘Nurture your next generation,’ which was our theme for the
project.”
In addition to the lobster habitat workshop, this financial year the FCO and Governor’s Office in TCI have funded lionfish control training and the travel and attendance of two DEMA officers to a sub-regional seminar on maritime surveillance monitoring and communication systems for maritime security.
Turks and Caicos Weekly News