Turks and Caicos Islands - The
Department of Environment and Costal Resources (DECR) has taken a major
step towards protecting the TCI’s coral reefs by banning the capture of
the beautiful Parrotfish under new Fisheries Protection Ordinance and
Regulations approved by HE Governor Ric Todd on November 4th 2011 and brought into effect December 1st, 2011.
With
the new Protection Ordinance the Department hopes that Parrotfish
numbers can be maintained to ensure sustained biodiversity and to
preserve coral reef health and the TCI’s fishing industry.
Parrotfish belong to a colourful group of fish known as
Scaridae. They
are found locally on many coral reefs and on sea-grass beds across the
Caribbean, and play a vital role in creating beach quality sand through
their feeding habits.
The new regulations now make it illegal for individuals to catch or have parrotfish for sale.
Director of DECR, Mr. Wesley Clerveaux noted that:
“
To
date, the TCI is one of the few Caribbean countries known to have taken
this bold initiative in an effort to protect this vital resource and
prevent widespread coral reef destruction as seen in other islands, due
primarily to overfishing of parrotfish.
It
is a widely known fact that globally, coral reefs are facing many
threats which affect the ecological balance of these delicate
ecosystems, and in turn the livelihood of those who depend on them for
food and income. The threats include land-based pollution, climate
change, improper fishing practices and overfishing.
Despite
having some of the most pristine coral reefs remaining in the
Caribbean, the TCI are not exempt from these threats with one of the
primary one being overfishing and overgrowth of algae resulting from
land-based sources of nutrient/pollution.
As
such, the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) has
taken steps to initiate mitigation measures to address this issue
through the revision of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance and
Regulations to incorporate the management of this key species in our
beautiful islands; the parrotfish.”