Despite one credible sighting in February, Tobago environmentalists are breathing a sigh of relief that there have been no further signs of the venomous lionfish in Tobago waters. That's because the beautiful, deadly lionfish is not Tobago's only environmental threat at the moment. They are also being affected by sea warming and environmental pollution.
Potential problems that could affect the island's ecosystem and protection against various environmental threats are likely to feature in the campaign for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections, due by next year. Attention is expected to focus on how Tobago will protect its ecosystems, which are the foundation of its tourism economy.
The latest threat on the scene, the Indo-Pacific lionfish, is highly predatory and therefore dangerous, particularly for smaller fish, molluscs and invertebrates. The lionfish was common as an aquarium species in the US. However, since the 1990s, it was reported internationally that the fish was "unintentionally" let loose in the Atlantic, said to be a result of hurricane destruction in those years.
Since then, the lionfish has been a danger to other species along the US east coast, and it has also migrated to the Caribbean in large numbers. It frequents nearby Barbados, Aruba and Venezuela, the THA has said. Groupers, snappers, eels and a very few other species prey on the lionfish, which is also edible. Honduras recently attempted to train sharks to eat the lionfish.
Undersea Tobago's Derrick Chung, who first saw the lionfish last month, off a reef parallel to the ANR Robinson airport, said there had been no further sightings, even though searches were continued after the first discovery. Chung saw the fish during a dive with a marine biologist, who identified the species.
THA secretary for agriculture, Gary Melville, said last Tuesday, "We were on alert for the fish before, due to the many warnings about its movements from the US down the Caribbean, and now, since seeing one, we're on heightened alert." After the first sighting, Chung said, further dives were made to see if the fish could be located, but no sign was found.
This may be a good sign, since the lionfish is known to be territorial and may likely be found in the same place.
Reinforcing education programme for the public
Chung said the biologist, who identified the fish, was with his wife, a veterinarian, and both confirmed the species they saw was a lionfish. Melville said, "Since the sighting we're reinforcing the education programme we have for the public, so people can contact us if they see one.
"We know it has overrun the seas up to Venezuela, so it's only a matter of time for us." The THA has put up signs along various beaches, including Pigeon Point, for people, and specifically fishermen, to become acquainted with what the fish looks like, so they can report if they have seen it.
Long-standing diver operator Marcus Baumgarten is concerned that Tobago's eco-friendly image may be at risk, as a result of garbage dumping and excessive development in south-west Tobago, which encroaches on wetlands, as well as nesting bird and animal habitats, and marine life.
Also expressing concern about deteriorating reef conditions, Baumgarten has called for more reefs, such as Speyside-whose reefs remain pristine-to be declared marine park zones. Baumgarten said several other reefs, including Buccoo's, are dying due to sea warming and environmental pollution.
"Live coral is colourful-browns, greens,purples-but dead coral is white or grey," Baumgarten said. Chung says some pollutants can be as simple as washing-machine outflow entering the sea. But Chung is optimistic that some south-west reefs are still holding their own and could even regrow.
'Wastewater systems could become an election issue'
"The process which turns corals white and can kill them is bleaching due to warm sea temperatures and/or pollutants. We had a very bad bleaching event in 2005. But the process indicates the corals are under stress. If the stress is removed, some can regrow," Chung explained.
"We still have excellent reefs. I saw 15 turtles recently during four dives. So our waters still have lots of marine life." But he cautioned, "The question is what will happen to the reefs and other marine species if Government moves to build a deep-water harbour at the Cove Industrial Park at Lowlands."
THA's Melville confirmed that plans are in the works for Speyside to be declared a marine park. He said Buccoo has already been declared a marine park and Pigeon Point and nearby areas have been declared a protected zone, particularly to ensure against accidents with sea bathers.
On fears that the south-western Cove Industrial Park could create environmental havoc, Melville said the THA had decided to screen industries operating in the park to ensure the least possible damage to the ecosystem. But the issue of wastewater systems, a perennial problem for Tobago, is still to be rectified and could well become an election issue.
Melville said a plan for the wastewater system has been in the works for years, but the required $60 million funding has always stymied progress.
