Divers heading out to install moorings in Grand Turk

Dear reader,

As we continue through the summer months, our dedication to preserving the vibrant marine ecosystems of our beautiful islands remains stronger than ever. We invite you to dive deeper into our ongoing initiatives and explore how we’re making a difference.

This month, we are spotlighting our mooring initiatives, which play a crucial role in protecting coral reefs from damage caused by boat anchoring. These efforts not only safeguard marine life but also enhance safety and the guest experience. Additionally, we’re excited to recap recent outreach events that have made the past few weeks colorful and inspiring— from vibrant kids’ books to a stunning new mural!

We believe every action counts, and your involvement can make a significant impact. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, there are numerous ways to contribute to our mission. We invite you to learn more about our initiatives and discover how you can join us in protecting these precious ecosystems. The first step is to visit us at our facility, where you’ll see our living coral biobank and chat with our team about how you can get involved.

Together, we can make a lasting difference. Let’s continue to work hand in hand to ensure that the beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands thrives for generations to come.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

With Hope,

Alizée Zimmermann
Executive Director
Turks and Caicos Reef Fund

Positive news to keep our hearts inspired…

Ed Forbes (front) is on our Advisory Board and acts as our Grand Turk lead. In the background, mooring champion Kaja and Grand Turk Volunteers.

new moorings in grand turk

This summer we installed 5 permanent moorings at the anchorage of Hawksnest as well as 6 new permanent snorkel and dive sites. Our team is heading back again this month to install another 5 snorkel/dive moorings.

A huge thank you to Grand Turk Divers, Blue Water Divers, Emerald Escapes and all the volunteers who helped make this mission a success!

Since 2010 the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund has installed over 150 snorkel and dive moorings across the archipelago. A public service for the protection of the National Parks and with the permitting support of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources but funded through private donations and merchandise sales. With an annual increase in tourism numbers and watersports operators, the need for consistent funding for moorings is increasing accordingly.

Are you interested in sponsoring a mooring?
Reach out to alizee@tcreef.org to find out how you can help!

Adrien and Sterling were two of our first SCUBA students in 2022! They still volunteer with us when the can!

DECR’s bight park beach day

TCRF was happy to host a booth at the 11th annual International Coastal Clean Up and Family Fun Day. A great array of tables with information on everything from migratory whales and turtle nesting to Lifeguard Training and Learn to Swim camps. Of course we had our microscope out!

“Octopus Garden” by Hernan Jurado Quintero, 2024
Photo Credit: Reggie Beckford

Congratulations to the DECR team, especially Amy Avenant for putting this together alongside Environmental Journalist Teressa Tomassoni, and Mural Artist Hernan Jurado Quintero, who together founded Visions4Nature.

We are consistently grateful for their focus on the enviroment and their collaborative visions bringing community, art and conservation together. ‘Octopus Garden’ is a powerful testament to the joy that art and nature can evoke.

Thank you to the sponsors that made it all happen:

Andaz Turks & Caicos Resort, Grace Bay Paint & Supply, The Edward C. Garland Youth Centre, The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources, The Marine Environmental Institute of Turks and Caicos Islands, and The Hartling Group (Luxury Resorts: The Palms, The Shore Club, The Sands & Villas at Blue Mountain).

Levenia Bishop awards Alizée Zimmermann Certificate of Appreciation.

saving ocean: children’s book launch

TCRF had a booth at the Family Fund Day Community event and book launch for Levenia Bishop’s second book in her Lily and Isla the Flamingo series.

Congratulations Levenia, we loved being a part of your event and your books are beautiful!

Levenia Bishop is a mother, wife and local author in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Both of Levenia’s books are available to purchase online through Orange Hat Publishing.

buy the book

Realities that we’re facing…

vessel out of order

We are close to having our vessel The Reefsaver back in action after several months of ongoing body work and repairs.
It can be difficult to complete field work without a boat but we are excited to be back on the water soon!

warmer waters

The water is getting hot again. You can see water temperatures live via our weather monitoring buoy: Aqualink. 2023 was one of the worst bleaching events ever for TCI and by far the worse I’ve seen in my lifetime here. We need to take a proactive approach to safeguarding species’ genetic diversity through biobanks and summer coral rescue programs. This is one of the driving forces in our search for land/space to expand our capacity for coral rescue.

conservation tip

A reminder to always use Reefsafe Sunscreen in our precious waters! Before you buy, check the ingredients.
To be deemed reef safe, the product’s active ingredient MUST be mineral based — non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide only.
Or even better, wear a rash guard instead!

tcrf merch

Protect your skin while supporting our conservation initiatives! Our rash guards are a ‘collect them all’ item as every year a new artist does the design.

Our 2024 rashguards have been very popular — for $50! Bright, bold, and SPF 40 — get yours today before they’re gone! We have a few left from past years (especially kids sizes) for $30. 100% of proceeds goes directly to our projects.

do you Own a rental property
in Turks & Caicos islands?

Become a Certified Reef Keeper today! Enlisting your property in our Reef Keeper Conservation Program can help us keep the islands ‘Beautiful by Nature’ and further conservational efforts.

A commitment to improving your property’s sustainable initiatives and adding an optional donation of $2 per night towards reef conservation on your guest’s bill, is a small but HUGE way that you can help us grow our team and our reach.

Find out which tier suits your property best…

Tier 1 — Basic Certification
Tier 2 — Supporting Certification
Tier 3 — Champion Reef Keeper

inquire to alizée

Help bring supplies to the Island

We invite you to browse our latest Amazon Wishlist filled with items that benefit our non-profit directly! By downloading it, you can view the items listed that we need desperately. You’re welcome to purchase & drop these items off to help support our cause further.

Thank you for your continued support!

DOWNLOAD TCRF AMAZON WISHLIST