Wild Tobago

Managing and conserving marine life around our shores is as important as regulating development on the land. Dr Anjani Ganase speaks for life in the ocean and advocates planning that extends to the ocean beyond the coastline. Marine spatial planning is the responsibility of everyone who enjoys an ocean activity.   As islanders we see our ocean backyard as vast and endless. The science tells us different. Historically, islands of the Caribbean have recorded overreach of ocean resources. Fisheries and industries have expanded from coasts to deep sea areas that have never been explored before. Coastal communities are washed by pollutants in the form of oil and plastics from neighbouring islands which choke beaches, mangroves and coastlines. Sensitive areas are encroached upon and degraded by industry and development.    Coastal erosion along Pigeon Point will get worse with sea-level rise. Photo by Anjani Ganase   Pigeon Point beach area marked off with buoys. P...

  On small islands like ours, natural spaces are shared with wild flora and fauna. Dr Anjani Ganase discusses some human impacts that we all should be mindful of.   Human populations have expanded around the world, not only in cities and towns, but spreading into wilderness areas. It’s time that we learn to share urban spaces as well as to respect all natural spaces whether these are actively protected or not.   In Trinidad and Tobago, there is a surge in outdoor activities as people see the appeal of dancing/ working out/ being under the stars, with a picturesque backdrop of tropical forests, beaches and lagoons. Large group hikes (100+ persons) and outdoor fetes have become popular. On one occasion, I observed Pigeon Point beach in the days after a beach fete. Keep in mind that Pigeon Point occurs in Trinidad and Tobago’s only marine protected area with its unique habitat and biodiversity. Walking along the beach, I collected handfuls of cable ties, pieces of wi...

  Helen Evans created Planet Ceramics in 1998 in tribute to the world in an island which she found in Tobago. She talks to Pat Ganase about making art and a livelihood in a place of joy and endless inspiration.   WHY TOBAGO I find it very inspiring to be working in Tobago. The whole environment is invigorating. If I just look outside my shop at the ocean, it changes from hour to hour, the sun comes out, clouds drift across, light or heavy rain, it’s an extraordinary spectacle all the time. And the sunsets are stunning. Then there’s the flora and fauna, the rainforest; so vivid, so much variety. We don’t often recognize what’s in front of us. Going back to London made me see what’s here, and what’s there; allowed me to appreciate the contrasts but also what’s special about each place.                                                ...

Duane Kenny is a Tobago adventure guide. Travel with him around Tobago from Pigeon Point to Charlotteville. Learn to “stand up paddle” (SUP) off Pigeon Point. Windsurf with his brother Brett at Radical Sports. In this adventure, Duane takes a small group to see the “lights in the lagoon” one moonless night. (This was first published in Newsday Tobago, November 28, 2019) Take a night when moon is on the wane and endless rain has been falling on the mangroves. Take four or five persons – the recommended minimum for a tour – who may not know each other too well: an artist, a practical do-it-fix-it man, a writer, a person helping humans with horses, and a non-swimmer. Put them together with an experienced guide. We arrive at the Pigeon Point base of the Radical Sports Limited Tobago, where our tour guide for the evening is Duane Kenny. His briefing is casual but direct. We will all wear life jackets.   We will all paddle; on no account should anyone just let the paddle ...

Pat Ganase interviews Brett Kenny, owner and operator of the Radical Sports business at Pigeon Point. This feature was first published in the Newsday Tobago on Thursday, July 12, 2018. Windsurfer at Pigeon Point Tobago Brett Kenny runs a business built on wind and human energy. The northeast trades at Tobago are his allies; the translucent sea at Pigeon Point his workshop. His investment in boards and sails facilitates the release of human energy to allow anyone to enjoy the freedom of the sea. The skills that are learned in windsurfing, kiteboarding or stand-up-paddling would serve the amateur or professional athlete. He encourages participants to learn to swim; it is a requirement that can be learned easily: “we had a windsurfer who spent an hour each day learning to swim before he went on the board with a life-jacket.” Radical Sports headquarters and office is a modest environment-friendly cabin It is one of the things he believes parents and teachers should giv...

  Anjani Ganase, Trinbagonian marine biologist, continues her exploration of marine Tobago. In this issue, she considers the sand on the beaches. This feature was first published in Tobago Newsday on Thursday September 1, 2016. Follow Anjani Ganase on twitter: @AnjGanase For me there is nothing more comforting than digging my toes into soft warm sand, taking in the soothing sounds of gentle waves breaking and an unobstructed view of the ocean. The beach for me is a place of relaxation and serenity. For others, the beach is a place for adventure and exploration: a big swell signals great surfing, strong winds call for kites and even sailing. At the beach, nearby reefs or rocky outcrops can be explored by snorkelers and divers. The beach is always an ideal spontaneous location for a lime, gathering of families to socialise, play sports or be lazy together. Going to the beach must be the single favourite pastime for islanders.  Sandy Point beach with coral...