DECR received reports of a Manatee sighting near Providenciales

Providenciales – Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 6 August 2024: The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) has had reports of a manatee sighted near and around Providenciales.

Manatees are not common in our waters and it is likely that the recent stormy weather in the region resulted in the mammal straying from familiar waters and finding itself near Provo. Manatees require fresh water, which unfortunately the TCI has very little of.

Efforts are under way to determine the condition of the marine mammal, however the Department kindly requests that a safe distance, and reduced speed is maintained near or in the vicinity of the manatee at all times. We also request that no attempts be made to swim, snorkel or dive with the animal.

The Department takes this opportunity to remind all vendors on the water that theFisheries Protection Ordinance and the National Parks Ordinance govern all Waters and National Parks in the Turks & Caicos Islands and as such, that the following activities are prohibited in our waters, and will not be tolerated:

Fisheries Protection Ordinance (5 of 1941) as amended, Regulations Part III Conservation Provisions: 

Restrictions on means of taking marine product and harmful activities:

9. (1) No person shall – 

(g) engage in the practice of throwing any food into the water for the purposes of feeding or attracting or harvesting any species of marine life unless authorised to do so by the Director; 

 Restrictions relating to marine mammals

18. No personal shall engage in fishing for, molest or otherwise interfere with any marine mammal. 

 Similarly, the following activities are prohibited within all national parks, nature reserves and sanctuaries, and will not be tolerated:

National Parks Ordinance (11 of 1975) as amended, Regulations on Prohibitions and Permitted Activities:

3(1),(2),(3):

 The taking of any animal or plant by any method on land or at sea except to the extent permitted in any fishing zone;

 The destruction of, or damage or injury to, any animal or plant;

 The removal of sand, rock, coral, coral-rag or any calcareous substance;

 Anchor damage to coral reef structures living or dead and associated marine plant and animal life.

As per the regulations, any person who contravenes any provision of these regulations commits and offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $50, 000 or to a term of imprisonment of twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment.