Project Lemon Aid Returns to Turks and Caicos

The Sharks4Kids team recently returned to Turks and Caicos for the second year of Project Lemon Aid. The project aims to raise awareness and educate students about the importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem. The team partnered with Big Blue Collective and Edward Gartland Youth Centre to make this program possible.

Jillian Morris, the founder and president of Sharks4Kids, emphasized the importance of partnering with local organizations for the long-term success of the project. Big Blue Collective provided boats and local knowledge, while the ECG Youth Centre coordinated school visits and field trips for students.

The team started their work in North Caicos, scouting potential nursery areas and engaging with the local community. They visited schools to teach students about sharks and donated books, activity packets, and posters. The activity packets, created by artist Sharktopia, were supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation and Sandals Foundation.

They then returned to Providenciales to continue collecting data and visiting schools. High school students joined the tagging days, where they learned about mangrove ecosystems and assisted the team in measuring, collecting DNA samples, and tagging the sharks. Local team members also provided assistance in the field.

The team caught newborn sharks and several recaptures from the previous year. These recaptures provide valuable information about how the species uses the mangrove habitat.

Visiting schools and educating students about sharks and their importance was a significant part of the project. The team spoke to nearly 800 students from 11 schools, connecting them with real marine biologists and inspiring them to make a difference.

The experiential curriculum was enhanced by age-appropriate learning resources supported by the Sandals Foundation.

Project Lemon Aid aims to establish a baseline population survey of juvenile lemon sharks in the Turks and Caicos Islands. By tagging the sharks and collecting genetics, the project will investigate if the females return to the same mangroves they grew up in and reveal family trees of the lemon sharks in the area.

The project was made possible through partnerships with Big Blue Collective, Edward Gartland Youth Centre, and local collaborators and partners. The team would like to thank DECR, Fisheries, Sandals Foundation, Save Our Seas Foundation, Rock the Ocean Foundation, Grace Bay Rentals, TCRF, and everyone who supported the project.

Overall, Project Lemon Aid is working to protect lemon sharks and their habitats in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the benefit of the marine ecosystem.
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