Turks and Caicos Acoustic Telemetry (TCAT) Network
The TCAT Network is a grassroots initiative aimed at directly supporting long-term science-driven marine spatial planning and species conservation in the Turks and Caicos Islands through the provision of shared research infrastructure and the promotion of broad scientific collaboration.
This Initiative was born out of the Darwin Plus Funded Project Navigating Conservation: Promoting capacity for acoustic telemetry in the TCI - more info at the project link below
36
Receivers deployed
6
Key study species
36
Animals tagged
Research Questions
As a founding member of the TCAT Network, Roots2Reef manages tagging studies which prioritize socio-economically and ecologically important species and those of heightened conservation concern. We aim to address key research questions that can inform species conservation and marine spatial management locally. These include the following:
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What are the space-use patterns across and connectivity between multiple major existing protected areas and the unprotected fishing areas between and surrounding them for multiple key species?
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What is the likely catchment area for known mutton snapper spawning aggregation sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands?
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How does habitat use and residency change seasonally for the large meso-predatory rays, the whitespotted eagle ray and the southern stingray, and is this impacted by sex or life-stage?
All research is governed by a Scientific Research Permit (SRP No. 2025-09-08-37) issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR)
Annotated diagram describing how acoustic telemetry works
Receivers are removed, their data is offloaded, and then returned
Shark spotted for tagging (Image credits: Brilliant Studios)
Annotated diagram describing how acoustic telemetry works