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TUKOT - Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI)

Extensive turtle foraging habitats
(Photo: P Richardson MCS)

Status: The status of marine turtles in TCI was recently reviewed as part of the TCOT project. TCI hosts annual nesting of at least two species (green and hawksbill turtles) but the populations are much reduced and limited to remote cays. Foraging green and hawksbill turtles are widespread, appear to be locally abundant at some sites and the abundance of suitable habitat means that the TCI may represent regionally significant assemblages of these two species.

Monitoring and Research: The nesting populations in TCI have received little co-ordinated monitoring effort but research has been expanded into the foraging grounds in recent years.

TCI, the Environment Charter and Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs): On the 26th of September 2001,  the Turks and Caicos Islands signed the Environment Charter, with UK government signing a reciprocal agreement at the same time. A great deal of background regarding the Environment Charter can be sourced in the website of the UKOTCF and the full text can be downloaded as an image.

Green turtle sampling in TCI
(Photo: P Richardson MCS)

Of the MEAs most relevant to marine turtle conservation in the region, TCI is signatory to the following:

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar)
World Heritage Convention (WHC)

Additional Useful Resources:

Turtles in the UK Overseas Territories Report
TUKOT Bibliography
TCI Specific TUKOT Outputs
OT Specific Images