Pushing an Ocean Agenda

As island people we should actively create activities to bring awareness on World Oceans Day, June 8 (Saturday). Pat Ganase tells us why we have reason to celebrate.

World Oceans Day has been observed since 2002; and every year since then, efforts to make people aware of the underwater world occupying more than 70 % of our planet have resulted in greater appreciation of seascapes and species; as well as access to and opportunities to heal the relationship between the land and the seas. (https://www.worldoceansday.org)

The ocean is important because it:

·      Generates most of the oxygen we breathe;

·      Provides food;

·      Regulates the climate;

·      Recycles and cleans the water we drink;

·      Offers a plentiful supply of medicines; and

·      Provides limitless inspiration!

Whether you live inland or on the coast, we are all connected to the ocean. Take time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean, and then organize or participate in activities that celebrate one ocean. This World Oceans Day, we are encouraged to think about what the ocean means and what it has to offer all of us; let us pledge to conserve healthy seas for ourselves and our children’s children.

We can discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, and how our daily actions affect them. We need to make the changes that are necessary to take care of the ocean as if it were our own backyard. Small modifications to everyday habits will make a difference; involve family, friends and community to benefit our island and our blue planet!

 

Rare and endangered branching Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) at Breakfast Bay, Charlotteville Photo by Anjani Ganase | The Maritime Ocean Collection

OCEANS DAY IN TOBAGO

Two very special reasons for celebrating World Oceans Day 2019 in Tobago are the start of the Maritime Ocean Collection; and the Government’s assent to the 2018 National Protected Area Systems Plan for Trinidad and Tobago in which significant ocean areas are protected for the first time.

The Maritime Ocean Collection will present online, in innovative 360 degree imagery and videos, the coral reefs and marine wildlife of coastal Tobago. The operators of the project, the marine NGO SpeSeas, the Institute of Marine Affairs and dive operators in north-east and south-west Tobago, have collected underwater imagery that will eventually be available on a dedicated website to the public, schools, researchers, visitors. Views and teasers have already been made available on the Facebook pages of the funders, The Maritime Financial Group, and SpeSeas.

The National Protected Areas Systems Plan which was approved by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in January, has increased near coast protected areas to 14 km² in Trinidad and 566 km² in Tobago. In addition, open ocean waters and deep sea marine areas (OOWDS) under protected status are 15,600 km², or approximately 22 % of Trinidad and Tobago’s EEZ. These are areas that have been designated  “sustainable use regions” and their boundaries are outside the blocks identified for oil and gas exploration: Caribbean Arc SUR. Eastern Caribbean SUR, Atlantic Ocean SUR and Orinoco-Guyana SUR.  These areas were chosen by the planners to reflect ecosystem diversity, provide representation across a range of ocean depths and habitats, and ensure ecological connectivity across these ecosystems.

The Plan has delineated the Northeast Tobago Marine Protected Area which covers 62 km of coastline mostly fringed by coral reefs. The types of coral reef communities that occur in the northeast are very diverse: they vary significantly between the Caribbean and the Atlantic sides, as well as between the nearshore and offshore reefs. Charlotteville is home to the rare endangered branching corals, while reefs of Speyside have an incredible diversity of marine sponges including the large barrel sponges that provide homes for other marine organisms. Many offshore islands and offshore rocks are beacons for the congregation of bird life above the water and also for fish and other pelagic life underwater.

 

Giant brain coral found along a reef that fringes Little Tobago, Speyside. Photo by Anjani Ganase | The Maritime Ocean Collection

What is important in this Plan is the recommendation of nearby coastal and marine sites for protection that occur outside of the newly designated marine protected area (MPA), such as Plymouth, Smith’s Islands and the Great River Shoal. These additional areas will benefit from and support the MPA through the exchange of coral and fish larvae that are dependent on current flow. These stepping-stones of protected areas will help maintain the sustainability of coastal areas in the long-term.  Secure connections for reseeding of coral and fish life are crucial for recovery from natural disasters (hurricanes) and especially for a relatively isolated and unique marine environment such as Tobago.

These are the coastal areas listed in the Plan:

·      L’Anse Bateau:  coral reef

·      Plymouth: coral reef

·      Mt Irvine: turtle nesting

·      Englishman’s Bay: coral reef, turtle nesting

·      Charlotteville: coral reef

·      Little Tobago and Goat Island: seabirds breeding; coral reef

·      Lucy Vale: wetland

·      Queen’s Island: seabirds roosting; coral reef

·      Richmond Islands: coral reef; seabird colony

·      Sisters Rock: coral reef, seabird nesting

·      Smith’s Islands: seabirds nesting

·      St Giles: seabirds

·      Great River Shoal: coral reef; rocky shores; queen conch habitat

·      King Peter’s Bay: turtle nesting

·      Great Courland, Little Courland, Stonehaven Bays: turtle nesting

·      Lambeau Bay: turtle nesting

·      L’Anse Fourmi beach: turtle nesting

·      Hermitage Bay: turtle nesting

·      North-east Tobago MPA extends for 53,340 ha

·      Buccoo Reef and Bon Accord lagoon: 2,234 ha (coral reef, mangrove, freshwater marsh, sea grass beds, habitat for hawksbill turtles and migratory birds)

 

School of fish congregate around Sanga Rock, north of Charlotteville. Photo by Anjani Ganase | The Maritime Ocean Collection

A parallel report, Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago, under the auspices of the FAO with funding from the UNDP GEF, deals with the pathways and people that must be involved in the establishment of the Marine Protected Area in North-east Tobago. One of the authors of this report, Aljoscha Wothke, who is already involved in education and conservation activities, notes:

“The stakeholders in Tobago, especially those involved in conservation activities, already have quite a clear understanding of the needs for effective monitoring and primary data processing.”

The Report states: “The two most outstanding needs to improve management effectiveness in the NE Tobago MPA are: community participation in planning and co-management arrangement with strong civil society organisations, and education / awareness at community and governmental levels to generate buy-in.”

The establishment of the MPA presents many opportunities for employment, economic development and unique conservation-based ecotourism in this remote area of Tobago with features such as bird sanctuaries on offshore islands and the Main Ridge Forest Reserve.

We expect that Northeast Tobago MPA will be such a model of awareness and conservation that it might demonstrate the rainforest and ocean in perfect harmony.

References:

Protected Areas Systems Plan for Trinidad and Tobago

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19f3h2N3pFjAJVxzIg4ccrMDZr5E8b0XH/view

Final Report of the Marine Protected Area Specialist Team for the project, Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/004/GFF) related to a possible Marine Protected Area in Northeast Tobago