February 2025
Newsletter

Dear Supporters,

This might be one of the most unexpected newsletters I’ve written to date! In the first two months of 2025, we’ve faced some rather unusual challenges that have tested our stamina and resilience. The SpaceX explosion in early January left debris scattered across our islands, a reminder of the delicate balance between technological innovation and the environment. On January 31st, a super yacht dropped anchor on a dive site in the Northwest Point Marine Protected Area (MPA) causing considerable damage. A couple of days later, divers reported a second, albeit much smaller, anchor strike (this time vessel unknown) at another dive site in the same MPA. 

February has been a tough month but in true TC Reef fashion, we’ve met these challenges head-on with unwavering commitment to the protection and preservation of our coral reefs. Our team has worked in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) to gather data on the spread of debris from SpaceX, assess the damage from the anchor strikes, and rescue corals and sponges in the affected areas. 

We’ve had new followers join our online and in-person community and we’re thrilled to welcome you all to the movement. We’re thankful for each of your support as we continue to grow our reach and amplify our conservation efforts. We are excited to share that work is underway to expand our facility and we were grateful to host our first ‘Cocktails and Conservation’ happy hour of 2025, sponsored by Tito’s vodka, on February 12th. It was so much fun, we’ll definitely do it again!

In closing, our country had general elections in February and the People’s National Party (PNP) was re-elected, with some changes in Ministerial roles. From all of us at TC Reef, we would like to congratulate the elected government, wishing you a productive and fulfilling term in office, and to remind you that our environment, especially the marine environment, is a fruitful but limited resource and its protection is most important to our sustainable future as a small island nation. We urge you to join us in committing to its protection for future generations.

With Hope,

Alizée Zimmermann
Executive Director
Turks and Caicos Reef Fund

Positives to keep our hearts inspired…

We’re expanding our coral farm!

Containers are getting ordered. We have compiled the specs for our new 40ft containers that will enable us to expand our coral biobank threefold!

judicial review success

After the successful quashing of development permission to illegally dredge through the Admiral Cockburn National Park in South Caicos, the judge also ruled that TC Reef would be eligible for the reimbursement of our legal expenses.

To date, we have committed over 50,000 USD to this legal case, which, had we lost, would have resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in ecosystem services and biodiversity to development. Well worth it in our opinion, but only possible through the support of our community.

Thank you to those who supported us financially and otherwise during this process.

Challenges we’re facing…

Spacex pollution

On Thursday, January 16th, the world’s most powerful rocket exploded just eight minutes into its test flight. The population of the Turks and Caicos Islands just happened to be right there to witness the fallout, raising serious concerns about the environmental consequences of rapid technological advancement. The event sparked widespread discussion about the risks associated with the ‘fail forward’ approach embraced by Elon Musk’s private space exploration company, SpaceX.

In the days following the explosion, debris from the rocket was discovered across many shorelines, adding to growing concerns over the ecological impact of such high-stakes experiments. As space technology continues to push boundaries, communities far from the launch sites are left questioning the hidden costs of innovation—costs that may ultimately fall on fragile ecosystems and coastal environments.

You can read more about this event in CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and the upcoming upcoming issue of Times of the Islands.

damage report: anchor strikes

On January 31st, a superyacht named Pick Up dropped its anchor on the reef of a dive site in the Northwest Point Marine Protected Area, causing significant damage.

The 46-meter, 511 GT vessel remained anchored at the site for only a few hours before being instructed to move, but in that short time, its anchor chain damaged an area approximately 50 by 30 meters. The chain toppled coral heads, splintered plating corals, and tore large sponges from their bases.

Within days, we were informed of a second, albeit smaller, anchor strike elsewhere in the same MPA. We’ve been working to assess the damage at both sites while stabilizing and rescuing as much as possible.

One of our volunteers, Charlie Todd of @oceaneyesmedia, joined us on the rescue mission and captured some incredible footage showcasing the effort that goes into these restoration projects. Many additional photos of the damage can be seen below.

Check out the videos on Instagram here: Part #1 and Part #2.

do not feed wildlife

 This may seem obvious but we are seeing an increase in fish feeding around the islands from persons wanting a closer interaction with marine life.

There is NO circumstance in which feeding wildlife is ok, these interactions can occasionally lead to incidents where humans are harmed but in every case, the animals are harmed.

Directly, this harms them by providing food that may not have the right nutritional balance (Sargent Majors don’t thrive on Doritos for example).

Indirectly, this harms them by influencing feeding behaviours which has been shown to alter natural instincts, making them more vulnerable in the long run.

join the TCRF in east caicos!

RumPowered® Research Trip
Dates: June 27th - July 5th 2025
Cost: $3,500 (Hotel tax & gratuity not incl.)

We are offering 10 spots for citizen scientists to join our research team on the reefs of one of the Caribbean’s largest uninhabited islands—one of its last truly wild places.

Step aboard the Turks and Caicos Explorer II for the liveaboard experience of a lifetime. The cost includes diving, Nitrox, room and board (double occupancy), and a week immersed in ocean conservation. Every evening, one of our researchers will give a presentation on their work, sparking discussions about the challenges and solutions facing our blue planet. Movie nights, board games, and roundtable discussions are always a hit, and we encourage our team to spend time with guests, giving you a chance to dive deeper into marine science at the intersection of social and environmental justice.

During the day, you can choose between hands-on citizen science, assisting with research, or simply enjoying exploratory dives with the crew. Whether you’re an avid diver or an adventure seeker, this trip offers a unique opportunity to get involved and support reef conservation in the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond.

For more information, email alizee@tcreef.org.

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