The Ministry of Environment, Home Affairs and Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) are clarifying misleading information regarding a UK-funded pelagic fishing now being carried out in TCI Waters.
The study which started a week ago will help to determine whether or not off-shore fishing stocks in the territorial waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are economically viable for development. DEMA is the department of government charged with overseeing the study.
The Ministry notes that despite being surrounded by productive marine resources, the TCI imports most of the marine products consumed on the island. These include a variety of marine species like tuna that are available in TCI waters. As it seeks to reduce the food import bill and bolster the nation’s food security, TCIG is looking for options that will provide sustainable harvesting of pelagic fish for local consumption.
Kathleen Wood, Director of DEMA noted: “If we can sustainably harvest pelagic fish for local consumption in TCI, we will not only eliminate these global environmental impacts but will provide business opportunities and multiplier effects across the entire TCI economy,” Wood said.
“As long as people continue to eat wild-caught fish in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it simply doesn’t make economic or environmental sense to do otherwise. We remain hopeful that people will be able to put aside the misconceptions being propagated by a few private interests and see the big picture.”
The Ministry labels as false, charges that the pelagic fishing study is being undertaken to allow foreign long-line fishing fleets operate in TCI waters as well as to allow foreign boats to engage in practises not allowed in US Territorial waters.
Wood contends: “Nothing could be further from the truth. For one thing, Dayboat Seafoods is the only pelagic fishing fleet in the United States that is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainably certified. This requires that they meet the highest standards of sustainable fishing practices. As a US flag-carrying fleet, they must maintain these standards, even when they are fishing in TCI territorial waters.”
Belonger-owned and operated Caicos Pride is partnering with Dayboat Seafoods to conduct this study and Belongers are being employed and trained in this new area.
Wood clarified further: “Fishing data can be collected only by fishing, as fish do not stay in one place to be counted. Worldwide, the vast majority of fisheries data is collected through recording catch characteristics. This is how we assess stocks for all fisheries in TCI, including conch and lobster.”
The DEMA Director also noted that while the fish that is caught is being sold as part of this study, this is necessary as it is the only reliable way to collect the quantity of data required in the short time the study will be conducted. In addition, she pointed out that TCI-based sport fishing enthusiasts have been reluctant to provide TCIG with data that would otherwise assist in such studies.
The Ministry urges the sport fishing sector to aid the data collection process by providing TCIG with catch data to support maintenance of their sport as well as research. The Ministry is also assuring fishing interests that the study will in no way threaten their livelihoods by depleting stocks of targeted and non-targeted species, including endangered species.
Wood noted: “While these fears are understandable, they reflect a misunderstanding about the nature of renewable resources, in general and pelagic fish specifically. Fish are not a finite resource. As long as we are not harvesting them at a rate faster than they are replenishing themselves, no harm will come to the resource.”
She continued: “With pelagic fish, this concept is extremely relevant because these fish are not resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands but migrate across the entire Atlantic Ocean, in some cases”.
The DEMA Director further explained that such stocks are protected by international rules and quotas to ensure that global stocks are protected.
“With regard to endangered species, we have developed conditions of approval that allows us to halt the study should the by-catch of rare, threatened or endangered species become detrimental to the stock of those species. We are pleased to report that no marine mammals or sea turtles have thus far been affected by the study,” she said.
Mrs. Wood noted that while an Atlantic white-tipped Shark -a species that is listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable globally and Critically Endangered in the Caribbean- was caught and released dead, this is not detrimental to the overall stocks of this specie.
The Ministry notes that DEMA and the TCIG are keeping “a close eye on all by-catch mortality and will respond with remedial action, should such action become necessary.”
The Ministry is mindful of the contentious nature of the study but assures that the long term benefits of the study are being carefully weighed and assures TCI that TCIG stands ready to halt the study should it negatively impact the wellbeing of any marine species.
