A new training programme to certify local flats fly-fishing guides will open economic opportunities and support marine conservation across the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially in the sister islands. Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam celebrated the territory's first cohort at Beaches Turks and Caicos on Monday, August 24, 2026.
The course was developed by the Turks & Caicos Fly Fishing Association Ltd. and TCI Community College, with funding from the UK Government’s Darwin Plus Programme and assistance from The Bahamas Fly Fishing Association. Flats fly-fishing uses artificial flies in shallow coastal waters to target species such as bonefish, providing an alternative to harvesting them. Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam noted the initiative turns conservation into practical livelihoods while safeguarding local fisheries.
The certification ties into broader environmental commitments, including the UK Blue Belt Programme and the territory's duties under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which covers more than 144,000 acres across North, Middle, and parts of East Caicos. Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam urged the new guides to set high standards for the industry as ambassadors and environmental stewards as the sector expands.