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IMA > 2019 > March

State of the Marine Environment Trinidad and Tobago 2016

The report provides a scientifically grounded understanding of the condition of Trinidad and Tobago’s coastal and marine ecosystems, habitats and species which are extremely important for this country’s development and sustainability. It also details how the status of these resources have been, and are being affected by the range of natural and human pressures to which they are subjected such as land-based pollution and impacts from climate change.  The degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems (coral reefs, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, beaches), mainly from anthropogenic impacts such as pollution has made them more vulnerable to impacts from climate change, and other emerging issues like impacts from invasive alien species (IAS) and Sargassum blooms. Within the...

Beyond the Blue – Ep6

Bioluminescence Bioluminescence, a glowing, shimmering incandescent light that certain plants and animals sometimes emit. In the case of marine plants, bioluminescence is observed most typically in a few blooming phytoplankton species under certain environmental conditions. A rare phenomenon that is seen in the Ortoire River. Listen to Mrs. Lori Lee Lum, retired Community Education Officer of the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), explain the phenomenon. ...

Twenty Thousand Microplastics in the Sea

Prepared by Attish Kanhai, Research Officer Institute of Marine Affairs First published in 1870, Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea tells the story of something strange happening in the ocean. A sea beast that no one had ever seen before was attacking ships in the ocean. None of the sea folk at the time had any idea what this strange beast might be. An expedition ship, the Abraham Lincoln, sets sail in search of this unknown creature. After some time the Lincoln is attacked by the fearsome sea beast only for the crew to discover that this is no sea beast at all but something manmade yet equally fearsome, a submarine....

The Untold Story of Saharan Dust

by Attish Kanhai, Research OfficerInstitute of Marine Affairs As the tiny boat streaked across the Gulf of Paria during the early hours of a Monday morning, the sky seemed to melt into the ocean. The horizon disappeared as sea and sky faded into one never-ending blue curtain. Not surprising I thought, as I dreaded the day ahead. The weather forecast had predicted extreme plumes of Saharan dust over the next few days and warned allergy sufferers to take the appropriate measures. As I entered into the mangrove forest the waterworks started, runny nose, itchy eyes and sore throat. With a sigh I accepted my...