The Marine Resilience Initiative, Tobago (Pilot Project)
Tobago waters are rich in marine biodiversity, home to unique and interconnected ecosystems, such as the Buccoo coral reef - Bon Accord Lagoon Complex made up of seagrass and mangroves. Most of Tobago’s Caribbean coast is fringed by coral reefs extending to the northeast Tobago, UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve. For over ten years, the Institute of Marine Affairs has been monitoring the health of coral reefs and seagrasses around Tobago. Unfortunately, we have observed several disturbance events have affected Tobago’s marine ecosystems resulting in significant mortality / dieback of critical coral reefs and seagrass beds. Coral reef monitoring conducted by IMA has...
International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA2022): SMALL IN SCALE, BUT BIG IN VALUE
“Our small actions can have big impacts, like a ripple effect.” Small-scale fishing and aquaculture can bring food to one family and provides healthy nutrition to millions more. It brings value to all. Small-scale fishers and farmers also know what it means to preserve the balance in our ecosystems. But our livelihoods are at risk, now more than ever, we need to be resilient, include us in decisions that affect us, and we will adapt and innovate with the changing tide. We may be small scale, but our way of life will make a difference, and keep on spreading like ripples in the water”. These...
Caulerpa
The genus Caulerpa belongs to the Chlorophyta (green algae) of which twelve species have been recorded for Trinidad and Tobago. Members of the genus consist of one cell only with many nuclei, making them among the largest single cells in the world. They are characterized by a creeping stolon which is tabular, from the under surface of which downwardly pointing rhizoids grow and serve to attached the organism to some support (pebbles, reefs, or other solid surface.) From the upper surface the photosynthetic portion, called the frond, grows upwards. Different species of the genius are recognized by the shape of the frond. Caulerpa racemosa has...
Ulva Lactuca
Ulva is a genus of green algae (Chorophyta); seven species of which are recorded for Trinidad and Tobago. The most commonly seen of these is Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, known as Sea lettuce. It is found growing on rocks and other solid surfaces in shallow waters and is thus often exposed at low tide. Irregular ins shape sometimes with ruffled edges, it is attached to the substrate by a small, disc-shaped holdfast. The thallus, which grows as a single frond, is a yellowish-green to dark green, two-layered sheet of randomly arranged cells. The cells appear to be empty, but for cup-shaped chloroplasts on the sides nearest...
Grooved goose-neck barnacle
Lepas anserifera Another type of barnacle that is commonly found attached to floating debris washed up on beaches, driftwood, and ship hulls is the Goose-neck barnacle. It has a long, fleshy stalk ending in a flat body formed of several connected calcareous plates. Barnacles feed through feather-like appendages called cirri. As the cirri rapidly extend and retract through the opening at the top of the barnacle, they comb the water for microscopic organism. When the tide goes out. The barnacle closes up shop to conserve moisture. As the tide comes in, a muscle opens the door so the feathery cirri can sift for food. You may also...
Fire Coral
Fire Coral is associated with coral reefs where it occupies shallow water down to the deep reef. It forms colonies that look like coral but despite the name they are actually not true corals. They are more closely related to stinging hydroids and jellyfish. Fire coral is not always easily recognizable: it can form upright, ruffled sheets or small branches, may overgrow surfaces and other marine life, taking the shape of the encrusted object e.g. sea fans. It is readily seen at Mount Irvine, Buccoo Reef, and Speyside, Tobago, and on the reef flat at Salybia Bay, Toco, Trinidad. Contact with Fire coral is usually...
Coconut palm
Science name: Cocos nucifera A common sight along the seashore worldwide, the slender, leaning trunk grows to a height of 25m. The leaves arise in a crown at the top, each leaf approximately 5m in length with many leaflets. The flowers grow among the leaves and are yellow-white in colour. Female flowers produce single-seeded fruit (coconuts). Each coconut has a fibrous husk which surrounds a woody shell containing the coconut meat, milk and oil. From the trunk to the nut every part of this versatile palm is useful. It is used in cooking, cosmetics, soap, fertilizer, roofing material, mats and even jewellery, among other things....
Thorny starfish, Spiny sea star
Science name: Echinaster sentus Thorny starfish Found in shallow water in seagrass beds and rocky areas, its colour varies from red to brown to purple. The tips of the five arms are blunt and covered with short, spaced spines. Sea stars are known for their ability to regenerate limbs. They accomplish this by having most or all of their vital organs in their arms. Photo credit: Jonathan Gomez You may also like ...
Rock crab, Zagaya
Science name: Grapsus grapsus A swift, little crab with a flattened body and sharp claws on the ends of its legs to help it hold on as it dashes over the rocks. Difficult to approach, the crab will retreat to a rock crevice at the first sign of movement. Its dark speckled body is well camouflaged against the wet rocks. It is often used as bait by shore fishermen. Sometimes one may come across a discarded rock crab moult of a reddish hue. When crabs moult the skeleton splits around the edge of the body from the rear and the animal crawls out backwards. Photo credit:...
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