June 2024 Newsletter
Happy world Ocean Month!
Dear reader,
I hope this message finds you and yours happy and healthy as we somehow already find ourselves half way through 2024. It’s been a year of hardships and blessings for many of us, but we must persevere. My name is Alizée Zimmermann, and I am honored to serve as the Executive Director of Turks and Caicos Reef Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and restoration of the magnificent coral reefs that outline these beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the launch of our monthly newsletter, a platform through which we aim to keep our community informed and engaged in our mission. Our newsletter will serve as a comprehensive source of information on the initiatives, progress, challenges, and successes of our organization as we strive to make a meaningful impact.
We will share updates on our ongoing projects, highlight key research findings, showcase the efforts of our dedicated team, and provide insights into the innovative strategies we are implementing to promote coral reef health and sustainability in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Our mission at Turks and Caicos Reef Fund is not just about coral conservation and restoration; it is about education, research, advocacy, and inclusivity. We believe that by working together and fostering a sense of community involvement, we can achieve significant progress in safeguarding the natural wonders that define our beloved islands.
I invite each of you to subscribe to our newsletter and join us on this journey towards a more sustainable and vibrant future for our coral reefs and most importantly, our people. Your support is invaluable to our cause, and together, we can make a lasting impact on the marine ecosystems of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our shared vision of healthy coral reefs. I look forward to sharing our progress and achievements with you through our monthly newsletter.
With Hope,
Alizée Zimmermann
Executive Director
Turks and Caicos Reef Fund
Student tours are flourishing
From January 1st - May 15th 2024 we welcomed 164 students into our facility to see live coral, urchins and crabs, some for the first time! Students participated in a Mangrove ecology tour as well as a facility tour and learning about the importance of conservation science and the job opportunities that exist within the blue economy here in TCI.
Our Coral Bio Bank now has colonies of all ten of our target species, giving us hope for coral reef restoration. We currently house over 150 colonies from the most vulnerable coral species at our facility.
Are you interested in joining our next research trip?
We only have a few spots left to sign up!
Explore the natural beauty of East Caicos, the biggest uninhabited island in the region, alongside researchers and scientists. Daily trips to the reef & nightly talks to discuss our findings. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to connect with the marine life of Turks & Caicos.
*Advanced open water or 100 logged dives required to participate.
snorkel moorings: first line of defence
Moorings - they are the first line of defense for coral reefs and the most important infrastructure in our marine national parks. Since 2010 TCReef has had an agreement with the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) to manage the installation and maintenance of this essential infrastructure. Over 150 dive sites and 20 snorkel sites have been installed around the TCI during that time. However, with an ever increasing tourism market and watersports operators, we are struggling to keep up with demand. An average of 30-50k per year is spent on moorings, every dime of which is raised through merchandise sales and private donations. Our team of volunteers are the manpower behind our work.
Currently snorkel moorings are suffering from misuse and careless boat captains. In 2023, we reinstalled 17 moorings along the Grace Bay and Leeward to Pine Cay reefs. There were 5 left earlier this year. In March we were able to install another 4, 3 of which were run over within a week. In May 2024 we replaced 10 snorkel moorings, a value of approx. $7000.00. Please help us to keep this infrastructure in good condition by following proper mooring etiquette and using a dock line to bridle through the pick up line and back to the bow of your vessel.
Reef Keeper Conservation Partnership Program
andaz turks & caicos is a champion reef keeper
As founding members of the Reef Keeper Conservation Program, Andaz Turks & Caicos is committed through both actions and financial contributions.
To help deliver on this commitment, Andaz Turks & Caicos will donate 1% of sale proceeds from each residence in their newly released Reef Collection to the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund.
wymara resort raised $18,000 in just 6 months
Through the Reef Keeper Conservation Program, Wymara Resort began asking guests at checkout if they would like to donate $2 per night of their stay to the TCRF. In just six months, Wymara raised over $18,000 with this initiative.
By involving their guests in this cause, Wymara Resort & Villas not only raises crucial funds but also heightens awareness about the importance of marine conservation.
CONSERVATION TIP
Everyone can make a difference! We may often feel like one person’s actions get lost at sea, but one person’s actions multiplied by many, CAN and DOES create positive change.
Use only Mineral Sunscreens and wear sunshirts for UV protection. Reef Safe is an unregulated label so it is important to check the labels, only non-nano titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
newly created amazon “wishlist”
We are excited to share our new Amazon Wishlist for our non-profit! By downloading it, you can see the items we need and help support our cause by purchasing and bringing us these essentials. We'll update the list monthly to reflect our current needs.
Thank you for your continued support!
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In the Turks & Caicos Islands, Coral reefs are the ‘source’ of everything. From our food security to our coastal protection, to the economic importance of the tourist dollar, it is all connected back to to the ocean. Above all though, it is who we are, if you cut a slice out of this island, the coral fossils speak for our history and coastal values are intrinsic to the cultural heritage of these islands.”