Institute of Marine Affairs - Trinidad and Tobago

Welcome

The Institute of Marine Affairs has assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with developing marine and environmental policy for over thirty years.

Researchers, with the aid of support staff, have worked in almost every area of the marine and environmental field – from chemistry, geology, ecology, fisheries and aquaculture to marine and environmental law and policy.

Fundamental research on sponges and corals, comprehensive mapping of major coral reefs in Tobago, studies on sea turtles and the monitoring of coastal and oceanographic dynamics are all done by IMA researchers. The Institute has also contributed to the development of national legislation on marine pollution, and has addressed a wide range of marine and environmental issues through membership on the following national committees:

● Wetlands
● Land Reclamation
● Maritime delimitation
● Oil spills contingency
● Biodiversity

'Fingerprinting' oil

Written by Dr. Darryl Banjoo

Principal Research Officer - Environmental Quality Programme

The importance of database for T&T

We quite commonly hear of oil spills in the waters of Trinidad and Tobago and no one seems to know the culprit. The fact that we are a significant oil and gas producer with an extensive system of oil pipelines, and refining and transport operations, means that oil spills are not unusual. Oil also leaks into the marine or terrestrial environment from natural seeps.
In some instances, spills are reported and clean–up operations conducted by the responsible party - usually oil companies which have the necessary equipment to do so. In other situations, there are "mystery spills" where no company claims responsibility and the source is otherwise unknown. In these instances, samples of oil are collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis so that its origin can be traced. This analysis is termed "oil fingerprinting" and is particularly useful when the results are used as evidence for litigation against the responsible party (or parties) or when there are claims to be made for compensation by affected parties.

OUTREACH TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT OUR MARINE ENVIRONMENT

The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) School Outreach programme was carried out in Tobago during 6th – 10th February 2012 and over 4 days March in Trinidad. This annual programme which began in 2006, promotes an increased understanding among Primary and Secondary school students, of issues and aspects in marine science. Approximately 800 students in Tobago and 700 students in Trinidad were reached through multimedia presentations on the following topics: Marine Mammal Conservation, Coral Reefs, Mangrove Wetlands, Marine Pollution, and Coastal Erosion and Landforms.

Sustainable Development from Ridge to Reef

Written by Kahlil Hassanali

Associate Professional

Environmental Research Programme

Grey skies open, depositing torrents of rain on already saturated slopes. Not as protected as they once were due to deforestation, small-scale agriculture and housing developments, the integrity of the hillsides is continuously tested. It is a situation that became all too familiar over the last rainy season.
Siltation of water courses results when top soil washes into the rivers that drain rainfall catchments. As these muddied rivers snake through valleys, flooding occurs as the volume of water and debris in the channels exceeds the capacity of the watercourses. Eventually, the rivers reach the coast, leaving plumes of brown water to sully the marine environment.
But it does not end there. Consider an island like Tobago where over half of the coastline is fringed by vibrant coral reefs.

Siltation of coastal waters at Charolotteville, Tobago  
Photo: Gervais Alkins

These ‘rainforests of the sea’ are not spared the impacts that result from denuded hillsides and the ensuing siltation that heavy rainfall brings.
Coral reefs are underwater structures that are formed by coral colonies over thousands of years. Each coral colony consists of tiny animals known as polyps which secrete calcium carbonate. Mixtures of different types of colonies fuse to form the reef structure. In turn, this structure provides habitat for a myriad of marine species which include fish, turtles, molluscs, worms, echinoderms, crustaceans, and sponges.
Apart from their ecological value, coral reefs offer shoreline protection against storm surges. Being productive and species-rich ecosystems, they are utilized for subsistence and small-scale commercial fisheries. Reefs also contribute significantly to Tobago’s tourism brand as they are sites for diving and recreation, as well as a source of coral sand for its picturesque beaches.