Wild Tobago

  When last did you see black sea urchins on Tobago reefs? Anjani Ganase reports on the fate of sea urchins in the Red Sea following fatal disease in the Caribbean   Scientists are in shock after discovering a mass die off event of the black sea urchin (Diadema setosum) in the Gulf of Eilat in the Red Sea over the last couple of months. On reefs that were covered in these urchins, they now encounter dead skeletons and spines on the bottom. This black urchin, which is native to the Red Sea, invaded the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal many years ago. The population which occurred in the thousands on the reefs in the Mediterranean were wiped out in July and August 2022. The first reports of the sea urchin mortality came from Greece and Turkia and was originally thought to be a localised event. While that die off did not seem a threat to the species that is invasive in the Mediterranean Sea, the rapid spread of the disease across thousands of kilometres in the Eastern...

 In recent weeks, there have been a couple of shark attacks in St Martin and St Kitts and Nevis. Rather than try to convince readers how incredibly rare shark attacks are, Dr Anjani Ganase delves into why we fear sharks and what we can do to overcome the fear (if we wanted to). Hammerhead shark with free diver. Credit: Amanda Cotton/ Coral Reef Image Bank Why do we fear sharks? The fear of sharks that we have simply does not stem from the facts about shark attacks, as the risk is incredibly low. There are a few reasons for this fear. The first driver is evolution, where much of the fears is thought to be primal. On the most basic level, that idea of being eaten by a shark is horrifying, as no one wants to be a meal. It is a fear that dates back to our ancestors who had to protect themselves against predators. Add to this, the stories that surround shark attacks by seafarers. One well-known account came from the survivors of the USS Indianapolis who were torpedoed by the Japanese du...

Here at the confluence of wild Atlantic and calm Caribbean, photographer-birder Faraaz Abdool finds a frenzy of feeding birds. Here, the St Giles group of islets and rocks off the north coast of Tobago are sanctuaries for these sea-faring residents. We departed Charlotteville under the blazing midafternoon sun, heading due north around the spit of land that marked the end of the world-famous Pirate’s Bay, also our point of departure from the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The waves kicked up a bit and the water darkened substantially as we powered our twin-engine vessel “Fish Machine” over swells that seemed to become more and more well fed the further we got from mainland Tobago.   Well into the rollicking Atlantic Ocean, even the air itself smelled different. My good friend, fellow guide and self-described old sea-dog Zolani (of Frank’s Tours) advised that we relocate ourselves from the bow to the stern, given the new conditions. He didn’t need...

It’s always useful to try a different perspective, especially on places we have become accustomed to. Faraaz Abdool, birding enthusiast and guide to wild Tobago, approaches Englishman’s Bay from the sea; and feels like he’s discovered a new world, coming ashore for the first time. As baitfish congregated in the shallows, there was a feeding frenzy among the attending gulls, terns and noddies. Photo by Joanne Husain Englishman’s Bay has been earmarked as a marine protected area for its coral reefs and idyllic habitat for nesting sea turtles. A quick stroll along the beach will clue even the most casual observer into why turtles love to nest here – loose, large-grained sand helps make the mountainous task of nest excavation a little easier for these ancient oceanic reptiles. Divers and snorkelers frequent this bay for its extensive marine life that is present all year round. Many tourists take the hour-long drive from the bustling south-west of the island to suddenly veer off...

Dr Anjani Ganase considers the lessons to be learned from the film documentary Chasing Coral. Screenings and discussion sessions are being organised by IYORTT (Trinidad and Tobago Initiative for International Year of the Reef) and secondary schools are encouraged to schedule a viewing. Chasing Coral allows us to follow the journeys of scientists, coral enthusiasts and filmmakers to record the devastating impacts of the third global coral bleaching event along the Great Barrier Reef. Chasing Coral documents the process of coral bleaching and extent of damage to the marine life that depend on these corals; and by extension the livelihoods sustained by this crucial ecosystem through coastal protection, food, income and recreation. Although much of the story is set in Australia, Chasing Coral tells of the dangers of losing coral reefs and the impacts on island nations, anywhere.  Here are a few questions that people have asked the IYORTT team about coral bleaching and climate ...

Do we still have time and resources to save Tobago’s coral reefs? To pull them back from the edge of their long slow decline? Dr Anjani Ganase believes it’s not too late. There is need for everyone to understand their value, and for investments in monitoring, management, research and policy. Here is her quick survey of some strategies. After the recent devastation of coral reefs around the world in the 3rd global bleaching event (2014-2016) - the longest and most severe yet - and with the still uncertain future of climate change, scientists are desperately working on the next steps for coral reef survival. Even with the global agreement to reduce carbon emission and curb temperature rise to less than 2 degrees, it is predicted that we will still lose between 70 – 90 % of coral reefs (Frieler et al 2013). For the millions of people that depend on coral reefs, this story will be a tragedy. Apart from continued efforts to push governments to transition away from oil, coal and na...

From her University of Queensland base in Brisbane Australia, Anjani Ganase, marine scientist, visits islands in the South Pacific and finds familiar island traits with her Caribbean home. Just off the east coast of Australia, lies Vanuatu, 83 islands in the south western Pacific with a culture vastly different from that of Australian neighbours. There, I found similarities with Caribbean culture and ecosystem that resonated with me. Their island culture is also well-blended with indigenous and colonial influences and has become its own identity. The islands of Vanuatu occupy about 680,000 sq-km of the south-western Pacific region. Their official languages include English and French, but there are over a hundred languages spoken across different islands and communities and the dominant creole language throughout the islands is Bislama. A blend of English and indigenous languages of Vanuatu, Bislama has morphed grammatically into a distinctive form. This language permits commu...

Anjani Ganase, PhD candidate studying coral reef ecosystems at the University of Queensland in Australia, presents her colleague’s study of differences between coral reefs in shallow and deeper water. The findings in Dr Pim Bongaerts’ research may have implications for coral reefs around the islands off the north of Tobago. Latest scientific findings reveal that shallow water coral reefs that are more prone to disturbances such as wave action, storm damage and bleaching events, are unlikely to be reseeded by corals living in deeper, more protected waters.  Even though coral species may occur across a large depth range, they can evolve into different strains or  “breeds” adapted to either the shallow or deep water environments, limiting the connectivity between these sections of the reef. These were the finding of Dr. Pim Bongaerts, a coral reef scientist at the University of Queensland in Australia. The story of corals and coral reefs gets even more complicated. P...