Happy Emancipation Day
As we celebrate Emancipation Day, let us reflect and pay tribute to our forebears whose profound resilience and unyielding strength broke physical chains and laid the foundation of freedom upon which we stand today. As we encourage our younger generations to safeguard and protect our legacy, the Institute of Marine Affairs extends best wishes to the national community on the occasion of Emancipation Day – August 1st, 2026. HAPPY EMANCIPATION DAY to ALL ...
Working Together for Cleaner Coasts
Small actions can make a big difference when communities come together. On Saturday, 13 June 2026, PROMAR, in collaboration with the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD), Courtyard by Marriott Trinidad, the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and the students of St. Augustine Girls' High School, hosted a coastal cleanup at the Foreshore, Port of Spain. Together, volunteers removed an impressive 1,050 pounds of marine debris from the coastline, including 530 pounds of general waste, 350 pounds of plastics, 170 pounds of glass, and 35 discarded bags. Every item collected represents one less threat to our marine life, coastal habitats and communities. Beyond removing litter from...
Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development visits the IMA
The IMA Management Team, led by Dr. Rahanna Juman, Director (Ag.) met with Senator Dr. The Honourable Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, on Monday 20 July 2026. During the meeting, the Minister informed the team of ongoing discussions and initiatives related to sargassum valorisation and highlighted opportunities to transform the seaweed into value-added products. Discussions focused on the potential economic and environmental benefits of utilising sargassum, which continues to impact coastlines throughout the region. The meeting also provided an opportunity for the IMA to share its perspectives on the issue and explore areas for collaboration. The engagement underscored the importance...
Our Mangrove Forests: Protecting our islands, providing foods and livelihood opportunities
Prepared by Rahanna Juman, Director (Ag) / Wetland Ecologist On July 26, 2026, we will join the rest of the world in observance of International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. This day, declared in 2015 by the General Conference of UNESCO, is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem" and promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses. Do we know how blessed we are to have mangrove forests on our islands? Mangrove forests are one of the world’s most productive ecosystems in the tropic and sub-tropics as they enrich coastal waters and...
Advancing Deep-Sea Discovery & National Stewardship
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) recently participated in the Pre-Expedition Scientific Seminar at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Held on 26 June 2026 at the Learning Resource Centre at The University of the West Indies St Augustine, the Seminar was held ahead of the landmark deep-sea research expedition titled, “Deep Wonders of Trinidad and Tobago and Adjacent High Seas.” Led by renowned deep-sea scientist Dr. Diva Amon, the deep-sea expedition aims to unite local and international scientists to explore, study, and document unexplored deep-water ecosystems within Trinidad and Tobago’s national jurisdiction. During the Seminar, Dr. Ava Maxam, Director of the IMA highlighted...
IMA Research Team Embarks on a Legendary Voyage Aboard RV Falkor (too)
Trinidad and Tobago is about to make history! From June 29 – July 28, 2026, local scientists from SpeSeas, The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine, and the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) will join the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s RV Falkor (too) on a groundbreaking deep-sea expedition. For the IMA research staff, stepping aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s RV Falkor (too) is like entering a floating university, one that sails directly into the mysteries of the ocean with cutting-edge technologies at their fingertips. R/V Falkor (too) sails the South Pacific off the coast of Chile after the reconstruction of its bow.Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute...
Institute of Marine Affairs Mourns the Passing of Professor Emeritus John Agard
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) joins the national and international communities in mourning the loss of Professor Emeritus John Agard, who passed away on 19 June 2026. Professor Agard was an internationally respected environmental scientist, a pioneering advocate for climate change action, and a steadfast champion of evidence-based sustainability management. His distinguished career began at the IMA in the mid-1980s, where he conducted foundational marine and ecological research before serving as Professor of Tropical Island Ecology and Head of the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine. His academic leadership and scientific contributions profoundly shaped ecological research and...
World Oceans Day 2026 – Message from the Director of the Institute of Marine Affairs
On this World Oceans Day, we gather under the inspiring theme “Reimagine” and recommit to the long-term vision of “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet.” This year, we are called to repair our bond with the ocean, our planet’s beating blue heart. The ocean sustains life, regulates our climate, and provides food, livelihoods, and cultural identity for billions of people. Yet, it faces unprecedented pressures from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. To reimagine our relationship with the ocean is to envision a future where marine ecosystems are resilient, thriving, and safeguarded for generations to come. Strong, well-managed marine protected areas are central to this...