Academic & Student News from The Center for Marine Resource Management - Turks & Caicos Islands

Academic News: Dr. David Wilson, Center Director, March 11, 2005
The past two weeks have seen the completion of Case Study I, with students facing examinations later this week. The focus of Case Study I was to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of resource management, fisheries biology, stock assessment, and integrated approaches to coastal management, with special emphasis on small island states such as the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI). Specifically, Case Study I was aimed at assessing the current status of marine resources important to the ecological and socio-economic well-being of the TCI. The Turks and Caicos Island economy is highly dependant on natural resources, both from a tourism and fisheries perspective. Thus, during the case study our students were provided with a local perspective on how marine resources are managed and the difficulties managers face when trying to balance resource conservation with extraction. The case study drew upon perspectives from marine ecology, environmental policy, and resource management to frame local environmental problems and focus our Directed Research efforts, which began last week. The case study was supported by several guest speakers, including Scientific and Enforcement officers from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), personnel from the TCI National Museum, local developers, politicians, small business operators, a social welfare officer, a fisherman, trap boat owners, and a local pastor. Guest speaker topics ranged from the enforcement of fisheries regulations, to the social-economic history of the TCI and the political system of the TCI. Last week we had our semiannual Invitational Dinner, with 69 local dignitaries and their families in attendance. This event gave the students a greater insight in the “major players” in the South Caicos community. By all accounts, the event was a tremendous success with many tales of times past on South Caicos being passed around. This event serves to bring together as many of our clients and partners as possible to meet our students and discuss their research in an informal setting.

Student News: Anna Johnson, Student Affairs Manager
During the past two weeks, the students have been finishing up with Case Study I in anticipation of exams that started today and will end next Tuesday.  We have also had a variety of visitors from the United States as well as from the Turks and Caicos, to add to the regular schedule of Directed Research and field exercises, evening volleyball, weekends at East Bay beach, runs to Highland House on the Atlantic side of the island, and the start of a Saturday night staff vs. students Trivial Pursuit match.

Almost two weeks ago, we received a visit from 38 fourth grade students from Providenciales.  They were on a field trip to South Caicos to study mangrove and sand dune habitats and SFS was one of their stops. SFS student Carolyn Barrett headed up the organization of their visit, which began in our classroom with a slide show presentation of organisms and touch tanks where the children could see and touch live versions of what they saw in the slide show.  Then it was off to Bell Sound, where the children went on a scavenger hunt for organisms with SFS students.  While the students loved hunting in the water for all sorts of creatures, the most fun was jumping off the high sand dunes on the north side of the island.  The children had fun, the SFS students had fun, the teachers had fun, and hopefully we all learned something in the process. 

Another highlight of the past two weeks was a visit by Paul Houlihan, President of SFS, Colleen Cusick, Admissions Counselor for SFS, and four representatives from affiliated universities.  It was good to hear about study abroad programs from the perspective of those who administer them and it was an opportunity for them to learn more about us.  They also enjoyed exchanging their snowy hometowns for a few days of sun and snorkeling. 

Another visitor was Henry Hanfield, a former fisherman who is interested in starting a finfish plant, something that does not currently exist in South Caicos.  He sees a large potential market for finfish export that is not currently developed.  In addition to learning more about the potential for finfish, we enjoyed all of his shark stories—especially his story of being head-to-head with a Hammerhead. 

We also hosted an invitational dinner for people from the local community.  The music blared as we set up for the night, decorating the school with conch shells, flowers, and luminaries for the festivities.  We dined on conch fritters, bonefish, pork and chicken, four types of salads, and a variety of side dishes.  Fifty-nine guests plus their children visited throughout the evening, giving students a chance to meet local government officials, teachers, fishermen, local business people, developers, and friends of SFS. 

We are working with several different projects including weekly walks with the residents of the Disabled Center, reading to the children at the public library, starting a group for high school girls, and swimming lessons. 

Student Reflections
“We are about six weeks into the program and I have learned so much!  We have had the chance to identify and learn the names of sea grass and mangrove communities, reef fish, and corals.  We have had many members of the community come to talk with us about various aspects of the ‘TCI way,' i.e. fishing, religion, education etc.   It has been truly interesting to learn about a different culture, not from a text book but from the culture itself.  We had an invitational dinner on campus and our guest list consisted of a variety of influential people in the community; including developers, pastors, policeman, and fisherman alike.  It was a great chance to mingle and learn about each of them individually.  We are spending a good part of the days in the water participating in a variety of projects including transecting/counting corals, fish, conch, and sea grasses.  The program up to this point has been very eventful and continues to intrigue us all.”
-Traci Schoenrock, Metropolitan State College of Denver

“Have you ever wrestled your life away from the savage jaws of a primitive beast from the murky recesses of the Caribbean Sea?  It was early March and I was a student (not sure exactly what I was doing) on the small island of South Caicos, the site of my impending disaster.  On one particular morning I found myself among other students holding a long net, inescapably lost within the unspeakable horror of a mangrove known as Moxy Bush.  Granted, this trespass had occurred with great frequency in the weeks prior, but something about this day felt different.  All of a sudden, I saw it.  A juvenile lemon shark had become entangled in our innocent, helpless net.  The ferocity of the great beast was unspeakable.  It lunged forth at all who would approach it with open jaws and ill manners.  Several students and an intern were slain in the ensuing battle.  To this day, I do not recall how I escaped from the stomach of the epic beast.  All I know is that without their brave sacrifice, our lemon shark research would have been in vain.

Just kidding!”
-Chris Cote, Boston University

“We've been here just over a month, and already South Caicos feels a bit like home.  Our involvement with the community has been touching and educational for everyone. Last week, a group of grade school students visited us for a Habitat Day, when we brought them to a mangrove beach and sand dunes for some hands-on experience with the organisms found there. Bright and early one Saturday morning, we aided the Environmental Health Department in an island clean-up, where students and community members worked together to clean up South Caicos. As exams approach this week, we are spending most of our time glued to the online Power Point presentations, chasing down our teachers for extra help, and finalizing our much anticipated spring break plans. When the stress of studying is too much, there's always the beach, friendly - and not so friendly- volleyball games against the staff (students dominate, of course), a dip in the pool or just relaxing along the conch wall. No matter how swamped or overwhelmed I feel at times due to the workload, as long as I'm falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing and waking up to 85 degrees and sunny weather, I know I'm lucky and wouldn't have it any other way.”
-Jill Weber, University of Connecticut 

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