Wild Tobago

Faraaz Abdool visits the Wadden Sea and Halligen Islands at the   north of Germany, an area protected as a birding habitat. What are the lessons for birding in Northeast Tobago?     At the north of Germany, the Wadden Sea National Park was recognised as an UNESCO biosphere reserve back in 1990. The five inhabited Halligen islands were added as a development zone in 2005.   This North Sea protected area consists of grey, featureless tidal mudflats - the largest   such ecosystem in the world spanning 4,500 square kilometres across three countries. There are no verdant valleys or misty mountains, or even azure, idyllic stretches of ocean here. The vast majority of the organisms that utilise this habitat live in the mud, their daily struggles unnoticed, their existence only visible when violently yanked into the above-surface world by one of millions of migratory shorebirds - called waders -   on those shores of the Atlantic.   The tidal mudf...

Ryan Mannette provides commentary on the first public consultation for a hotel development by Superior Hotels of Trinidad and Tobago at Rocky Point in Mt Irvine. Ryan Mannette is a Tobagonian, a marine scientist, and a Director of the NGO SpeSeas that advocates for marine conservation and awareness.   The public consultation was highly anticipated.   Arrival an hour early was not unusual as there were several persons already registered and in their seats at the Buccoo Multipurpose Facility. Closer to the start time, people continued to file in. The numbers were impressive, every seat was filled, then walls were lined, doors were blocked (people were relocated) and persons were standing in the courtyard outside where a speaker was mounted. There were close to 200 attending - more persons than at the Toco port EIA consultations three years ago. People from the communities around Mt Irvine, including Pleasant Prospect , people from the surfing community wea...

  Hannah Lochan reports from the Youth Leadership Summit and the Our Ocean Conference in Greece.   “We may seem radical today, but it is just because we are ahead of our times.” Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and deep-sea explorer was addressing 100 youth leaders gathered in Athens, Greece. She was not only motivating but made me feel heard and understood. Climate anxiety is daunting and the threats to our ocean’s health are mounting. However, through it all, we have hope and we have action. Young people cannot be afraid, but must become steadfast champions for the ocean. “Tell the truth! There is no need to go beyond the truth. But do not stay quiet about the things that concern you,” Dr Earle said. SUSTAINABLE OCEAN ALLIANCE Historically, youth representation is low. Now, we recognize that the young need more input into goals and policies that affect their present and future. A Youth Leadership Summit was hosted before the main Our Ocean Conference through a partnershi...

Dr Anjani Ganase talks with Tadzio Bervoets, Co-Founder of Caribbean Shark Coalition, about shark attacks in the Caribbean Sea. The news was terrible, Friday morning. The messages were flying in. Was it true? Was there a shark attack in Tobago? Can’t be, I thought, that’s not something that happens in T&T. But it was true. An unprovoked shark attack on a British tourist in the shallow water of Turtle Beach. Finally, a message I wanted to receive. It was from Tadzio: “I heard what happened. Terrible. Please let me know how I can help. I hope the victim is doing okay.” Tadzio is from Sint Maarten and has worked in marine research and conservation in the Dutch Antilles for 20 years. He is the former director of Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, and during his time there he managed to get the entire exclusive economic zone of Sint Maarten designated a marine protected area and shark sanctuary. He is currently the executive director of Dutch Caribbean Nature Allianc...