1. THE COASTAL RESOURCES OF THE NORTHERN RANGE November 8-10, 2004 John Agard

2. WHAT COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS ARE IN INCLUDED? Near-shore terrestrial: e.g. rocky and sandy shores. Intertidal: e.g. mangrove forests, ports and marinas Benthic:e.g. seagrass beds, coral reefs, soft bottom environments Pelagic: e.g. fisheries

3. MAJOR DRIVERS OF CHANGE WHICH AFFECT COASTAL RESOURCES OF THE NORTHERN RANGE Urbanization on the coast which targets flat land for ports, houses, industry, hotels, recreation. Pollution from land based sources especially sewage, litter More efficient fish harvest technology e.g. long-lining, trawling, gill-netting

4. SUMMARY OF CONDITION AND TRENDS IN COASTAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

5. Mangrove Forests Size (ha) North Coast Scotland Bay <1 Maracas Bay25 Tyrico Bay1 Las Cuevas3 Yarra River1 Marianne River15 Grand Riviere 1

6. Size (ha) North East Coast Matura River5 Salybia4 North West Coast Bayshore / Diego Martin River <1 Chaguaramas<1 Hart's Cut<1 Cuesa River<1 Mucurapo3 Sealots<1

7. Mangrove Forests Northern Range has about 60 ha of mangrove forests remaining and declining Major driver is changes in coastal land use. Tradeoffs: water purification, fish nurseries, coastal stability

8. Beaches According to IMA the north coast is less susceptible to erosion than other coastal areas, which consist of soft, friable sedimentary material. The main problem reported is litter deposited by recreational users

9. Seagrass Patches of seagrass remaining at William’s Bay, Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club and Salybia. Trend: area of seagrass is stable.

10. Coral Reefs Small reefs exist at Toco and the five islands. No recent assessments of condition done.

11. FISH CATCHES

13. ECONOMIC VALUE OF FISH CATCHES

14. FISH CATCHES According to Fisheries Division statistics, fish catches mainly landed at Maracas on the north coast, have increased 8 fold from about 50,000 kg in 1998 to 400,000 kg in 2001 worth about 2 million TT$. The statistics do not include the significant fish catches which are landed in Venezeula.

15. PROVISION OF SAFE AND NATURAL HARBOUR AT CHAGUARAMAS 65 yachts 1990 increased to 2590 yachts by 1997. US$ 340,00 per month spent by yachties. 60 million TT$ invested in associated facilities. 1300 full time and 145 part time jobs created in 1997.

16. Water Quality Sporadic studies of water quality indicate declining water quality at popular bathing beaches mainly due to increased sewage contamination. IMA studies have established a link between bathing in sewage contaminated water and increased incidence of associated gastro-intestinal illnesses.