Wild Tobago

As we enter 2024, Dr Anjani Ganase presents some of recent findings from ocean studies.   A school of hammerhead sharks, Mikimoto, Japan. Credit:  Masayuki Agawa / Ocean Image Ban k Shark mortality rises even with legislative measures   A recent study highlighted the continued increase in shark mortality from fishing, up from 76 million to 80 million between 2012 and 2019, despite widespread regulation changes. About 25 million of those catches are threatened shark species. In this time, there was a ten-fold increase in international regulations on shark fishing across 29 countries and overseas territories. Unfortunately, the majority of the measures focused on the banning of shark finning rather than policies that focused on reducing shark mortality. The ban on shark finning created a broader incentive in the shark fishing industry for the fishing and marketing of the whole shark for different purposes.   Shark fishing continues to i...

Syam Nath leads the Trinidad and Tobago Cetacean Sighting Network (TTCSN) in the growing body of research on Cetaceans (whales, dolphins) in the Caribbean. With a background in bio-acoustics – he studied in Spain and France – he hopes to understand their language. He encourages sightings to be reported to info@ttcsn.org   Marine enthusiasts across the region have been astonished by recent sightings of orcas, also known as killer whales, in the warm Caribbean waters. These sightings challenge traditional beliefs about the habitat preferences of these iconic marine mammals, raising questions about their regional presence.   Eyewitness accounts from various Caribbean islands have documented the presence of orcas, a significant shift from their historically colder water habitats. This phenomenon has led to inquiries regarding their migratory patterns and environmental factors contributing to their presence.   Orcas sighted off St Vincent and the Gr...

  Inspired by Tokyo 2020, Anjani Ganase shares the top contenders for an Ocean Olympics.   FASTEST SWIMMER The ocean finalists would easily be from the family of billfish that consist of a group of pelagic fish that roam the open oceans of the tropics and includes species of marlin, spearfish, and sailfish. The top speed contender will be a toss-up between the sailfish and the black marlin as both are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 110 km/h. The speed of the billfish is essential for herding and capturing prey. The sailfish has the advantage of its dorsal fin that acts as a sail and aids in corralling schools of small fish, such as anchovies. They may also use their elongated lower jaw like a spear. Runners up in speed include the wahoo (78 km/h), the mako shark (74km/h) and the Atlantic blue fin tuna (70km/h) followed by dolphins that can get up to 60 km/h. Also included in the top ten is the flying fish which can reach speeds up to 54 km/h.    ...