Wild Tobago

How many shipwrecks lie beneath the calm waters of our Gulf of Paria, from the Venezuelan side and Trinidad’s industrial west coast? Dr Anjani Ganase speculates on the effects of disintegrating vessels. She asks for some system to register and regulate ships in our waters, especially those that are likely to be abandoned here.                       Derelict vessel in the Gulf of Paria. Photo by Anjani Ganase     When you take the passenger vessel to Tobago, you will be familiar with the views of Trinidad’s coastline from the north-western Peninsula and along the north coast. You will also see, especially in the calm Gulf, a number of old vessels anchored or partially submerged, as   the ferry cruises by. As a marine biologist, I imagine the sea below the listing ship, I imagine a seabed littered with boat parts, garbage and seeping chemical waste from the hull. Consider that this is only a small section ...

Hike the Main Ridge in Tobago. Take the Gilpin to Bloody Bay trail and immerse yourself in an authentic Tobago experience that allows insight into why the forested backbone is so vital to the health of the island. Dr Anjani Ganase follows some waterfalls to the sea.   The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve was declared protected in 1776 for one reason – water. Guided by the findings of English scientist Stephen Hales, who noted the correlation between t rees and rainfall; Soame Jenyns, a member of the British Parliament, convinced the lawmakers that the main ridge traps the water so vital to Tobago’s fertility, climate and island ecology. Over two hundred years later the importance of the Tobago Main Ridge – more than ever – continues to hold true.                                                View of Bloody Bay at the...

Phill Diamond Williams is a Tobago entrepreneur, home grown and educated. He understands that what visitors want in Tobago is what Tobagonians want for themselves. One of the challenges is to validate the easy-going values-based Tobago way of life so that it remains the island offering that raises the bar in the tourism industry. He talks with Pat Ganase.   I grew up in Bon Accord. Both parents are from Bethel. I have one sister. My mother worked at the MK Hall School in Carnbee and I had lessons there. It was a model school and should never have closed.   At the age of 19 (2003), I went to Trinidad to the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) to work towards a business degree. I completed the Bachelor’s and went on to an MBA which I achieved in 2010. I stayed to work at the USC, moving into the accounting department before I left in 2015.   I wanted to return to Tobago and build my own business. I started selling cars, foreign used a...

As we step into 2021, let us commit to appreciating the incredible biodiversity of our islands, whether we understand all that exists here or not. Faraaz Abdool reveals some of Tobago’s unseen birds. For each bird one sees, there are several others that go undetected. Whether by camouflage, habit, or habitat, some species of birds have mastered the art of remaining unseen. Our hearts may be charmed by the Bananaquits and Blue-grey Tanagers. We may hold our breaths when we see the magnificent Ruby-topaz Hummingbird feeding on some nearby flowers. But what about the birds we aren’t lucky enough to feast our eyes upon? Nocturnal birds are often the sources of the mystery sounds and fleeting shadows of the night. Many of these birds are more often heard than seen. Take the mournful wail of the Common Potoo for example. This bird’s descending whistle stirred such emotion that it inspired its local name: poor-me-one. Common Potoos can be found throughout forests on Trinidad and Tobago ...

  Pesticides, phosphates, soap and shampoo, all have an impact on the natural world!   Dr Anjani Ganase looks at how everyday chemical use affects other species and the environment.   We impact our surrounding environment in more ways than we know. Humans alter the physical and biological landscapes and seascapes dramatically and silently. Less obvious are the chemical infiltrations that occur through some of our common activities. Our daily routines –   showering, cleaning the house, driving to work, all casual activities, even when we try to be mindful - all leave a footprint on the environment. Let’s look at a few chemicals that cause unintended collateral damage to wildlife.   The chemicals in our tyres A recently published study finally cracked the mystery of dying salmon in the northwest USA. These deaths have occurred in creeks adjacent to urban centres. For years, scientists would observe salmon suffer behavioural changes including swimming in ...

  We’re just a month away from one of the most widely celebrated seasons in the year. Coral reef ecologist Anjani Ganase suggests some ways to a more conscious observance.   If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we urgently need to change our relationship with nature. The over exploitation of natural resources has exposed us (and a significant number of animal and plant species) to debilitating diseases, devastating wildfires, deadlier hurricanes and mass die off of coral reefs and decimation of fisheries.     Gifts Galore! This typical sight on Christmas Day can be replaced with eco-friendly gift wrapping and thoughtful gestures. Photo by Pat Ganase     There is no part of the world that hasn’t been littered by plastic waste – from the highest peak of Mt Everest to the greatest depths of the Marianna Trench. Unfortunately, there still is a notion that the solution to the problem does not reside in our hands, and we continually have to be rem...

Fish stocks are dwindling the world over. Dr Anjani Ganase discusses how well-managed Marine Protected Areas help to protect nurseries.   All fisheries are in decline; trends in the Caribbean mirror the global statistics.   There is emerging a consensus on strategies for improving fish stocks by ensuring conservation and protection of marine ecosystems.   The solution is a holistic approach based on the establishment of “no take” marine reserves, also known as fully protected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where there is no fishing, recreational or commercial, allowed. We may be surprised by the solution, as many consider closing areas to fishing would reduce the fishing grounds available to the fisherfolk thereby limiting the catch. Yet, the opposite proved true, the development of well-designed and fully protected MPAs would improve overall fish catches in surrounding areas even more effectively than a fisheries management plan. So how is this possible?    ...