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

2012 Tidal Calendar now available

The Dynamic Coastlines of Trinidad and Tobago

When one thinks of shoreline change, immediately the sensitive topic of land loss comes to mind. Change, however, can be categorised into two main measurable outcomes - erosion (loss of land), and accretion (gaining land). The determination of either of these processes is accomplished through the measurement of shift in the vegetation line along the shore from one year to the next. While the impacts of erosion are more familiar, accretion may also pose difficulty for coastal users and marine life. These effects include: siltation of fish landing sites and ports, the smothering of benthic communities and sea grass beds, and a longer climb to the surface for turtle hatchlings on nesting beaches.

Israeli team visits IMA

On 30 November 2011, a team of Israeli officials visited IMA’s Aquaculture Facility. Ambassador Amiram Magid of the State of Israel to Trinidad and Tobago, the Minister of Agricultural and Science Affairs for the US, Canada and Mexico, Mr. Zvi Herman were accompanied by the Advisor to the Honorable Minister Vasant Bharath and representatives from the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs. The visitors viewed the tilapia hatchery, brood ponds and the Re-circulating Aquaculture System.

IMA donates fish to Primary school

The Institute of Marine Affairs donated 50 red hybrid fingerlings to support a Fish Farming Project, launched by the St. Augustine South Government Primary School on Thursday 1st December 2011.
Addison Titus, Technician - Fisheries & Aquaculture Research Program, delivered a brief introduction on the stocking and the grow-out of the fish to students and teachers of the school and demonstrated the stocking of the pond to the students and principal.