Wild Tobago

  Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, writes about the devastating bleaching taking place on all reefs around Tobago  As the boat cruised along the coast, the water is clear enough to see the white glow from the reef below. Reef after reef, from the Buccoo Marine Park to Speyside, the white patches are expansive and jarring, some large enough to surround the boat. Rolling back into water way too warm for Christmas season, I saw that what I was dreading become reality. Reefs that were once vibrant with colour looked like snow-capped mountains. Most were bone white, exposing the skeletons, while a few were sickly and pale.   Throughout my career, I have seen many thriving and healthy reefs. I have also seen many dead coral reefs, barren and devoid of life, in the aftermath of cyclones, dynamite fishing and other mass mortality events. To see corals dying on the reefs around our home islands is beyond tragic. I wonder if all of the Northern Range burned in a single y...

  As conflicts within and between countries increase, Helen Czerski’s book invites us to look deep into the singular system that shapes our planet. (Pat Ganase introduces Blue Machine How the Ocean Shapes Our World, Penguin paperback 2024)     However far from the sea you live, however near, you can be sure that the ocean has influenced your existence, and guides your being where you are. The ocean is vast and deep and still to be known. It gives weather energy and force. Helen Czerski gives us a snapshot of the complex inner workings of the ocean which she calls the blue machine. Intricacies may include the life cycle of an eel, guano or poo, and in Czerski’s telling become important to know. I retell a couple of her stories here in the hope they give an idea of the range and grand design she presents.   “My route into ocean physics wasn’t planned or expected. I grew up in Manchester in the north of England, where ‘ocean’ was considered a very exotic conce...

Dr. Anjani Ganase shares key findings from the WWF Living Planet Report 2024 which warns of dire consequences from failure to protect biodiversity on land and in the ocean.   Our planet has suffered major biodiversity loss – an average of 73 % - by every metric over the last 50 years. This is the global average based on over 35,000 populations of monitored wildlife consisting of about 5000 species in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. The average decline is even more shocking at the regional level with Latin America and Caribbean region showing 95 % decline in biodiversity, the highest level compared to other regions. This is based on just under 4000 monitored populations, made up of 1362 species in the region. Compared to Africa which has 76 % decline, while Asia and the Pacific have an average of 60 % decline. Other regions, such as North America and Europe show lower declines in the past 50 years, though much biodiversity loss occurred in previou...

John Procope talks with Anjani Ganase about his relationship with the ocean. In early October, he completed the swim from Scarborough to Toco; and has become one of a few people in the world to swim without stopping for over 24 hours.   John Procope swam from southwest Tobago to the rocky northeast coast of Trinidad. Photo by Anjani Ganase “I’d been swimming for several hours now, and the sun was setting. I saw Matelot in the distance and knew I was close. Throughout the swim, the support crew gave regular updates of the distance left to Trinidad.   Six miles to go, was the last I heard but more than three hours have passed with encouragement but no progress on distance. Turns out the current was, once again, pushing against me and I was no closer than a couple hours ago.   I was angry, I was crying. I wanted to quit! My supporters yell, ‘If you get in this boat, you will regret this for the rest of your life! Keep swimming!’ My eyes welled up with ...

  Rheanna Chen details her expedition to find flowers and decorate a wedding venue. She tells her story to Pat Ganase. Photos courtesy Rheanna Chen     A forest of locally grown tropical blooms was the brief from the bride’s mother: foliage and flowers everywhere at the venue, as well as bouquets for the bridal party. For the ceremony, we would build and decorate a bamboo arch as the focal point for the exchange of vows.   Flowers don’t last well if they aren’t cut and treated with respect. The challenge was to select, transport and create the floral ambience within the hours before the wedding on Sunday. My expedition started on Friday.   Rheanna Chen transporting flowers to preserve their freshness. Grosvenor Horticultural is a family farm south of Sangre Grande that specializes in flower production .   I arranged to pick up their blooms in Diego Martin: sexy pinks ( Heliconia chartacea ), red comb or shampoo ginger...