Wild Tobago

Anjani Ganase, Trinbagonian marine biologist, continues her weekly exploration of marine Tobago. Travel with her to Belize and Mexico where the XL Catlin Seaview Survey team surveyed the second biggest barrier reef in the world. Follow Anjani Ganase on twitter: @AnjGanase In 2013, I worked on an underwater coral reef mapping project called the XL Catlin Seaview Survey that allowed me to dive many reefs across the Caribbean. On one journey we explored the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, along the Yucatan Peninsula in the Western Caribbean. This reef is second to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and extremely vital to the health of the Caribbean Sea. Belize Barrier Reef Island. Photo by Anjani Ganase BELIZE We started in Belize, the only English speaking country in Central America. I wondered how much Trinidad and Tobago might have in common with Belize. Quite a lot, as it turned out: the “creole” language, the cheesy lyrics of...

Anjani Ganase, Trinbagonian marine biologist, continues her appeal to treasure our priceless natural resources, and urges a return to the more entrepreneurial and direct relationship between host homes and visitors, especially in Tobago. This feature "Owning our Paradise" was first published in Tobago Newsday, on Thursday July 21, 2016 Over the last few years, I have been lucky enough to visit coral reef environments across the Caribbean and in the Pacific. I have observed that many people who “live in paradise” are able to benefit and succeed in the tourism industry, when their first priority is to care about their own livelihoods and to protect the coastal ecosystems in their backyards. These fortunate communities are those that know that these natural habitats are their tourism products. And if you are not happy in your backyard, why will anyone else be interested? It also goes beyond that: there is no substitute for home. I often think ba...