USVI to create fake barrier reef, what that means for TCI

Dana Malcom

Staff Writer 

#USVI, January 19, 2024 – Facing the increasing effects of climate change, the US Virgin Islands have turned to artificial reefs; the decision prompted Magnetic Media to ask our local expert environmentalist, Amy Avenant, whether the Turks and Caicos Islands would consider a similar strategy.

“We are fortunate in the TCI, because our reefs have been protected by our legislation, our National Parks Ordinance for a really long time. The foresight has made sure our reefs are in a much better state than many other Caribbean countries, having said that, though we have still seen massive decline in the last 10 to 15 years,” said Amy, who has served for years as an Education Officer at the TCI Department of Environment and Coastal Resources.

Set to protect the island of St. Thomas, the 18-foot  by 12-foot reef will be installed near its coast and is expected to be completed by July 2024. While it’s a good fit for St. Thomas, Avenant says the TCI won’t have to look at building protective reefs just yet.

“Is it something we’re considering now? No. Because we are fortunate enough to have some sort of stability. Is something we may have to consider? It’s difficult to predict the future, but it’s certainly one way of leaning into coral conservation,” she said.

Avenant highlighted the work of the TCI Reef Fund, which hosts several conservation programs, including the adopt a coral program. Alongside the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) they are fighting all sorts of issues.

“We’ve experienced two massive bleaching phenomena; in 2017 and again in 2023. With the increase in water temperature, ocean acidification, the gravity of the storms that could occur and stony coral tissue loss disease, our corals are really vulnerable and up against a lot.”

To prevent further degradation, preventative action is key, Avenant said.

“As we as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face the impact of climate change more severely we have to start thinking creatively about how we approach conservation, how we protect our coral, how we protect what we have, and how not to destroy any further.”

The reef in St. Thomas, one of three main islands in the USVI, will be funded by a $760,000 grant handed over to the University of the Virgin Islands. They expect it to be complete before the end of 2024.