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The East Coast Terror: Sargassum Seaweed

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  What is Sargassum Seaweed? Sargassum, also called gulfweed or sea holly, is a type of large, brown seaweed that floats on the surface of the ocean. Unlike many other types of seaweed, it never attaches to the seafloor. This type of seaweed is very abundant in the Atlantic Ocean from January to May (the Dry Season). It almost looks like a moving island, due to the large mats the seaweed forms in the ocean. It is deposited along the coastlines of Trinidad and Tobago. Figure 1: showing Sargassum mats in a Bay in Trinidad and Tobago (TEMA 2022) Where does the Sargassum come from? Sargassum originates from two main sources, the Sargasso Sea, located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, and the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. The Atlantic Current is responsible for the movement of Sargassum and the deposits that are made along the West African Coast, the Eastern South American Coast, and throughout the Lesser Antilles. Figure 2: showing the circulation of Sargassum Seaweed in the Atlantic
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Gulf of Paria: Our Fishing Haven

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Learning about the Gulf of Paria The Gulf of Paria is a body of water that bounds the west coast of Trinidad and Tobago and the east coast of Venezuela. It is approximately 7,800km 2 of shallow sea with a wide range of biodiversity. This sea in particular has a mixed diversity of the Caribbean and South American marine life. Rivers from South America such as the famous Amazon River and the Orinoco River drain into the Gulf of Paria. Locally, the Caroni River and the Oropuche River are the major rivers that drain into the Gulf of Paria. Figure 1: Showing the location of the Gulf of Paria (Stabroek News 2018) The diversity of marine life found in the Gulf of Paria makes it one of our main fishing hubs. The Gulf of Paria is home to more than 70 fish species and at least 5 shrimp species (IMA 2018) most of which are commercially fished. It supports more than 2500 fishers and fishing communities which makes sustainable fishing practices of utmost importance. We are responsible for preser
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How to combat the Giant African Snail?

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Last week we touched on invasive species in Trinidad and Tobago and many readers asked about the Giant African Snail. What do they do? How to get rid of it? Do they contact the authorities? This and more will be answered in our final article of the year. The origin: The Giant African Snail was first sighted in East Africa, specifically in Kenya and Tanzania. It is a highly invasive species and a disastrous pest in the world of agriculture. This snail eats over 500 species of plants and is a vector for diseases such as rat lungworm which is a parasite. Once contracted this parasite can cause meningitis. According to the government of Trinidad and Tobago, Giant African Snails were deliberately introduced to the Caribbean in the 1980s. It was first sighted in Trinidad in October of 2008. At first, the snails were contained in the Diego Martin area but eventually spread through the entire North-West portion of the island. Recently, sightings of these snails have been reported far Eas
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The Alien Invasions: Invasive Species in Trinidad and Tobago

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What are Invasive Species? In Trinidad and Tobago, we are fortunate to have vast biodiversity, ranging from South America and the Windward Caribbean. According to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, we have 172 invasive species with over 100 of them being plants, but these are only the documented ones. There are many more that probably have not been identified yet. What exactly is an invasive species? An invasive species, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2021), “is an organism that causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native”. These species consist of flora and fauna that would have been brought into our country from foreign regions. Figure 1: showing an invasion of Giant African Snails (FAO 2021) How do foreign species get into Trinidad and Tobago? In many cases of species invasion, the flora and fauna are accidentally introduced into the wild. Many years ago, before airport regulations became very stric
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Our Islands’ worst enemy – Climate Change

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  What issues have arisen in Trinidad and Tobago due to Climate Change? In Trinidad and Tobago, we are blessed to be located at the southern end of the Caribbean Archipelago. Our islands are sheltered from the terrible hurricanes and storms that develop in the Atlantic. However, this does not protect us from the dreadful effects of Climate Change. Problems such as unpredictable/extreme weather, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, and many more affect our shores. Figure 1: Showing Climate Change comparison (ITU 2021) How do these problems arise from Climate Change? Unpredictable weather is caused by the warming of our oceans. The Atlantic Ocean is the harbour of all storms while the storms develop, they “feed off” of the heat of the ocean waters. This aids in increasing wind speeds thereby increasing the intensity and frequency of storms (tropical storms and hurricanes). Climate Change does not only affect rainfall which results in devastating floods, it affects droughts too which ca
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Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago

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What is deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago? Deforestation is defined as the removal of trees from forested areas across the world. Locally, we have three main forested areas: the Northern range, Central Range in Trinidad, and the Main Ridge in Tobago. It is important to mention that South Trinidad is also largely forested especially in and around the Trinity Hills. These forested areas are constantly under attack by legal and illegal deforestation. Figure 1: showing deforestation in Trinidad (Loop News 2021) Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago Firstly, not all deforestation is illegal. Companies that require space for infrastructural development can apply to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approval on the project. The EMA can determine the impact that the project would cause on the environment based on the details of the venture. Lumber companies also need to apply for a license before they teardown trees from any area. However, a large portion of the trees
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From Farm to Table: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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Did you know that your diet affects the amount of Greenhouse Gas emissions we emit per capita? Figure 1: Showing a farmer plowing (EU agriculture 2020) On earth, we have a wide variety of food options to choose from and many different types of diets. With so many food options and many different methods of production, there will be Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Growing crops and rearing animals contribute significantly to our global Greenhouse Gas emissions which include Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrates, accounting for 37% of Greenhouse Gas emissions in 2021 (NewScientist 2021). Animal-based foods produce almost double the amount of Greenhouse Gases than plant-based produce. Let’s look at the top 10 Carbon Dioxide Emitting foods. Figure 2: Showing the top 10 Carbon Dioxide emitting foods (2021) Adapted from the  Environmental Working Group’s Meat Eater’s Guide  and the  EPA’s Guide to Passenger Vehicle Emissions .   When considering more plant-based foods like fruits, vegeta
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