News
TCI Marine Protection to be improved thanks to Blue Belt Programme
#TurksandCaicos, November 18, 2021 – On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week sees the Blue Belt Programme Workshop was hosted in Providenciales.
The workshop is run and facilitated by the Overseas Territories Blue Belt Team – Marine Management Organisation , which offers assistance to UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) towards management and protection of the marine environment.
Since 2016 the Blue Belt Programme, an ambitious UK Government commitment, has supported the enhancement
The 2-day workshop is being attended by Hon. Minister Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage and the Environment; Oshin Whyte, Executive Officer and Environment Policy Lead, Governor’s Office; representatives from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks & Caicos Islands Royal Police Force Marine Police Branch, Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and Marine Resources Managment, Turks & Caicos Fisheries Co-op, Turks & Caicos National Trust, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).
The objective of the workshop is to glean a comprehensive understanding of the priority work areas under each prioritised theme, and the areas where the Blue Belt Programme can offer the most valuable assistance to TCI Government and its delivery partners. Themes to be discussed will include:
- Marine Spatial Planning
- Marine Protected Area management
- Fisheries compliance and enforcement