The TCI lobster fishery is managed through a closed season corresponding to the lobsters’ breeding period, a network of no-take marine reserves where lobsters cannot be caught, and a minimum legal size: fishers are required to carry lobster gauges in every boat, and to return any lobsters back to the sea if their carapaces (hard upper shell) are smaller than 3¼ inches. However, for a number of years, fishers had been requesting these minimum size gauges to help them comply with the regulations and fish sustainably, but none have been available in the country. To overcome this, some have been using homemade gauges fashioned out of plywood or plastic; others have been using their fingers as a guide; but many just relied on their experience to judge by eye which lobsters were too small.

FisherFolkFirst worked with the TCI Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management (DFMRM) and with local fishers to address this problem. Together, they identified the most suitable gauge on the market, and with Darwin Plus Local funds they purchased 650 units. The original plan was to buy only 300 gauges to supply all commercial fishers throughout the islands. However, Tom Bird, the owner of the company supplying the gauges (Trident Diving Equipment Inc.), generously dropped his prices because he wanted to support the project, and FisherFolkFirst was able to buy more than twice as many gauges. Marta Calosso and John Claydon from FisherFolkFirst travelled around the country and, with the help of DFMRM officers, they handed out gauges to commercial fishers and to seafood processing plants. This involved visiting as many of the docks and landing sites as possible on the three major fishing islands: South Caicos, Providenciales, and Grand Turk. They also created and posted flyers informing the public that gauges could be picked up by fishers for free at all DFMRM offices. The unexpected purchase of additional gauges has also allowed the DFMRM to keep a stock of gauges to cover demand for future years.