Investigating the Coastal Cultural Values of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is a British Overseas Territory located in the Western Atlantic Ocean that has a rich and diverse culture and history that are intertwined with the coastal landscape, however, there are knowledge gaps in literature and marine spatial planning frameworks on the importance of these landscapes to the local population as well as the cultural values that they invoke. The aims of this project were to determine the coastal areas that have cultural value to the people of the TCI and explore the range of values that are present. 33 semi structured interviews were conducted through a stratified purposeful sampling process aimed at long- and short-term residents on the islands of Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk, and Salt Cay.

Coastal Cultural values such as lifestyle, heritage, identity, attachment (to place), wellbeing, and aesthetics were explored, and findings showed that interviewees' idea of self and their heritage are deeply rooted in the coast and the memories that they created in those landscapes. It was also seen that persons are attached to the landscape due to it being aesthetically pleasing and genealogy and generational changes have an impact on the type of values that are expressed as well as areas that are valued. Areas such as Mudjin Harbour, Bambarra Beach, The Creek, Split Rock, Sapodilla Bay, Grace Bay Beach, Hawk's Pond Salina, Six Hill Cay, and The Docks were prominent mentions among interviewees.

Overall, coastal cultural values have profound meaning to the people of TCI and understanding their role can enhance landscape management for the current and future generations.