Minister of Environment Ralph Higgs and TCRF Chairman Don Stark

14 January 2020. - As we have reported last year, SCTLD was confirmed at coral reefs off South Caicos and West Caicos. We now have further evidence that SCTLD has spread to reefs on Providenciales and Grand Turk. SCTLD is a lethal (as high as 80% mortality rate) and fast moving coral disease and it affects 20 species of reef building corals.

The Turks & Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF) has been actively pursuing permission from the TCI Government to begin treating affected corals since August of last year but were only given permission to monitor progress of the disease. Despite the opinion provided from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the UK Government that amoxicillin antibiotic should not be introduced into TCI waters to treat this disease, the TCIG has agreed that the risks of adverse effects from the introduction of minute quantities of antibiotic into the ocean is far outweighed by the risk to not treating infected corals. Therefore, TCIG has agreed to allow TCRF to begin treatment of affected corals.

“TCRF would like to thank Minister for the Environment, the Honorable Ralph Higgs for his support in getting the Government’s approval to begin treatments,” said Don Stark, TCRF Chairman. “We understand this was a difficult decision given the FCO’s strong recommendation against the use of the antibiotic amoxicillin on the reefs, but we appreciate their ability to see that the risk/reward ratio for treating versus not treating favored moving forward with treatment.”

Treatment of affected corals involves applying a bead of antibiotic mixed in shea butter around the perimeter of a lesion on an affected coral head. This technique has been in use in Florida for nearly 5 years and has been quite successful in controlling the disease. But it is a labor-intensive process since it has to be done on a coral head by coral head basis. Clearly the TCI’s Department of Environment and Coastal Resources doesn’t have the manpower to undertake this large effort by themselves, so TCRF volunteers will be working under the supervision of DECR and a TCRF Project Manager to tackle the task.

TCRF volunteers who are experienced divers and who have flexible schedules will be trained in coral identification, how to identify SCTLD and in the preparation and application of the antibiotic treatment.

Training of volunteers will begin within the next two weeks so treatment activity can occur as quickly as possible. TCRF plans to spend at least two days a week treating and monitoring corals on the TCI reefs.

About TCRF

Founded in 2010, the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund is the only active environmental advocacy organization in the TCI. It is an all volunteer-run organization that provides funding for education, research and conservation programs to individuals, organizations and agencies that help to preserve and protect the environment of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Our goal is to have at least 85% of all funds raised through voluntary contributions from divers and snorkelers visiting the Turks & Caicos Islands directed to the Fund’s programs.

Anyone wishing to donate or assist the TCRF in any way can contact them through their website, www.TCReef.org. Scuba divers visiting the islands are encouraged to make a $10 donation through the purchase of a dive tag that can be attached to their dive gear to show their support. Snorkelers visiting the islands can show their support through the $5 purchase of a pink or blue silicone wristband. A complete list of outlets for TCRF merchandise can be found on the organization’s website.