COAST Foundation

🌊🌎 GET READY TO MAKE A SPLASH AT THE 2ND ANNUAL GARBAGE GRAND SLAM! 🌎🌊

📆 DATE: September 16th, 2023
⏰ TIME: 8am – 12pm
📍 LOCATION: Down the Islands & Chaguaramas Peninsula

Join us for a day of meaningful action and coastal camaraderie on International Coastal Cleanup Day to make a positive impact! Let’s work together to protect our oceans and contribute to a cleaner environment. 🌊🐠

🛶🌿 GARBAGE FISHING: Dive into action from 8am to 11am as we sweep away marine debris and make a positive impact on our environment.

🏆WEIGH IN AND PRIZES: Bring your collected treasures to the Tropical Marine Building (Wheel House) from 11am to 12pm. You could score fantastic prizes and be recognised for your contribution!

👉 REGISTER: Whether you’re a land lover or sea explorer, we need your help to keep our coasts clean and beautiful. Register now using the Registration Link below.

Be sure to invite your family, friends, and neighbours. Share the message and let’s make this event even more impactful!

See you there, ready to make waves for a cleaner world! 🌟🌏



Registration Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctqucM1A0SBByO6vp4HFfNeGKtAkal8XXDaOm0ADj62q8v8A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Happy World Reef Day! Today, we celebrate the beauty and importance of our coral reefs. Did you know that coral reefs support over 25% of all marine life on Earth? They protect our coastlines from storms, provide food and jobs for millions of people, and are home to some of the most incredible creatures on the planet. Let's take action to protect and preserve these vital ecosystems for generations to come. Together, we can make a difference! 🐠🌊🐚

COAST FOUNDATION / ERIC Exploration Competition

The COAST FOUNDATION and ERIC the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) are collaborating on a mission to map out the seabed at Man-O-War Bay, Charlotteville. This joint initiative is seeking to identify significant environmental and archeological marine sites underwater in the Bay.

Later this year, the two organisations, along with other important stakeholders in T&T scientific and educational fields, will host an exploration campaign to use Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to visually identify and document targets located by sonar beforehand.

COAST & ERIC are recruiting the support of the sportfishing community to help identify possible targets for exploration by using their high-quality sonar equipment, normally used for fish finding purposes. The Trinidad & Tobago Game Fishing Association (TTGFA) is reviving the annual Marlin Madness Sport Fishing Tournament in Tobago and hosting it in Charlotteville this week.

The planned influx of Sportfishing Vessels, with their experienced Captains and Crews, presents an incredible opportunity for further collaboration by this mass of ocean enthusiasts. To incentivise participation, and add excitement to the hunt, the COAST Foundation is offering a reward for any significant archeological marine site that is identified as a legitimate wreck discovery.

The vessel responsible for the discovery will win an original piece of Marine Artwork from world-famous T&T artist Iain ‘Wabba’ Milne. The crew would also be invited to participate in the naming of the site, should a vessel name of the wreck not be identified. To lodge an entry in the competition, Captains must submit a photo or screen shot of their sonar screen showing the structure and the location GPS coordinates. The use of side-scan sonar technology is strongly encouraged.

Captains are also encouraged to traverse different routes when entering and leaving the Man-O-War Bay area, to map a maximum about of seabed over the week of fishing and exploring. COAST and ERIC with all teams a safe and productive tournament. Enjoy beautiful Charlotteville! Tight Lines!

SAVING TICO (a Brazilian manatee)

Prof. Judith Gobin (The University of the West Indies) and Dr. Reia Guppy (The University of Trinidad and Tobago) are leading a team along with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network (Dr. Rod Seupaul, Dr. Wade Seukeran, Dr. Carla Phillip-Savage (Director) and Mr. Keith Lewis (Director, COAST Foundation) and are presently engaged in a rescue operation of Tico, a Brazilian manatee, Trichechus manatus.

Tico is only 7yrs old and migrated into the waters of Trinidad and Tobago over the last few days. He was released by the Brazilian NGO (AQUASIS https://www.aquasis.org/ ) in the state of Ceará, Brazil, and travelled more than 3000 km. AQUASIS believes that during the journey Tico did not eat or drink fresh water and that he must have lost a lot of weight. The Brazilian team is working with the Trinidad and Tobago team to safely recapture Tico whose location is presently in the coastal waters of Tobago. He will be assessed (healthwise) and we then need to return him to Brazil and back to his own population.

The Trinidad and Tobago team is seeking the assistance of everyone- to protect Tico who is quite vulnerable at the moment.
Rescue operations are continuing and all seagoing operators are asked to please advise the Director (Ag.) at the Dept. of Marine Resources and Fisheries (contact nos: 639 4446, 639 1966 ext. 3610/ 3604) or the Marine Mammal Stranding Network if you see Tico or have any information.

Please do not approach Tico as we wish to have him stay in the area while we await the arrival of the AQUASIS team. AQUASIS is a non-profit conservation (NGO) based near Fortaleza (State of Ceará) that was established in 1994, by a group of university students with the mission to prevent extinctions of highly endangered species and habitats in north eastern Brazil.

Since 2001, AQUASIS has been managing a Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Centre aimed principally at rescuing, treating and releasing manatees back into their natural coastal habitats.
We know that the good citizens of Trinidad and Tobago will join us in this rescue effort- to GET TICO SAFELY HOME!

GARBAGE GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT - OFFICIAL RESULTS

The COAST Foundation is excited to report an amazing response to our first GARBAGE GRAD SLAM TOURNAMENT. The event has a strong focus on youth participation and education to foster a positive cultural change in how we treat our ocean and manage waste in the Caribbean. The combined effort removed 2214lbs or 1.1Tons of Garbage from our Beaches and Oceans.

Special Thanks to all our supporters who made this possible. Namely Tropical Marine Ltd., Offshore Innovators, Subsea Specialist, Vintage Imports, Mileage Mack, Nett Lures, Wabba Art Merchandise, Uprise Inn, Khans Caribbean Development,



TOP 5 TEAMS

1. Ka-Ching – Michael Ross / Robert Stauble – 603lbs
2. Buccaneer – Steven Frankland – 598lbs
3. Reel Lunatic – Mark de Verteuil / Damien Gurley – 584lbs
4. Golden Palace – Jeremy Mac Lean – 365lbs
5. Darianne – Justin Bodden – 64lbs

These 5 teams / captains each win a Bottle of Johnny Walker Black and a Wabba Art Hat.

LARGEST TIRE & MOST WEIGHT IN TIRES

Buccaneer – Steven Frankland and Crew - $1000 Gift Certificate from Mileage Mack (services only).

HEAVIEST RECOVERED FISHING NET

Ka-Ching – Michael Ross / Robert Stauble – Custom Lure from Nett Lures

GARBAGE GRAND SLAM (Plastic Waste / Tire / Fishing Net)

Ka-Ching – Michael Ross / Robert Stauble – $400 Gift Certificate courtesy Vintage Imports

MOST SLIPPERS / SANDALS

Ka-Ching – Michael Ross / Robert Stauble – Pair (2) Boogie Boards courtesy Uprise Performance Boardsports

To coordinate prize collection, please contact Keith @ 775-1001

Announcing our first 3 confirmed Captains / Vessels registered!!
1 - Buccaneer 2 - Ka-Ching 3 - Reel Lunatic

In celebration of World Oceans Day and Father’s Day, the COAST Foundation is hosting the First Annual Garbage Grand Slam Tournament Down the Islands, Chaguaramas Peninsula.

Captains (Dads) bring out your Crews (Families) to catch some trash and clean up our beautiful ocean and beaches this Saturday 18th June. Free Entry!

Trash Fishing Times: 8 AM to 11 AM
Weigh In Times: 11 AM to 12 Noon
Weigh In Location: Tropical Marine Ltd (Wheel House)

Eligible Species: Plastic Waste, Tires, Fishing Nets

Fun for the entire family!! Lots of Prizes to be won!!

• First 10 Captains (Dads) to register their Crew will receive an Autographed WABBA ART Merchandise Flying Fish Hat courtesy

• Top 5 Captains (Dads) with total weight of Garbage each receive a bottle of Johnny Walker black courtesy

• Largest Tire recovered from the Ocean / Beach wins a gift certificate courtesy

• First Garbage Grand Slam (Plastic Waste / Tire / Fishing Net) to the scale wins a gift certificate courtesy

• Heaviest recovered fishing net wins a custom Stick Bait lure from

• Crew that collects the most slippers / sandals wins a pair of Boogie Boards courtesy

• Crew that finds an exact pair of floatsum slippers wins a pair of tickets to Tobago courtesy and two night at the Uprise Inn courtesy

• More great prizes to be announced this week!

Grant Writer / Administrator
The COAST Foundation is looking for a motivated and successful grant writer! The grant writer will be required to apply for and manage grant aspects of business in order to gain additional funding for the COAST Foundation. The grant writer will be responsible for locating, researching, and applying for potential funding opportunities in order to ensure successful budget operation. The ideal candidate should have previous experience and proven success in the grant writing field. This employee will be required to provide high-quality grant proposals, contact sponsors, companies, and organizations that offer grants, and submit grants to these locations. The position will be full-time for the correct individual. If you are motivated, hard-working, and have previous experience in this field, please do not hesitate to apply. We would love to have you on our team!
Please contact [email protected]

Happy Worlds Oceans Day! We must continue to protect where we Work and Play!

Our flashy new website is now live online! Check out www.theCOASTfoundation.org We appreciate your support! Link in bio…

What happened in the Faroe Islands on September 12th was nothing less than a record-setting massacre, with 1428 dolphins losing their lives in what was possibly the largest single slaughter of cetaceans in recorded history.

Now, the Faroe government has pledged to look into the regulations of the hunt, but we don't need more regulations, we need the hunt to END. It's time to keep up the pressure, so keep sharing, messaging, liking, and voicing your displeasure to Faroese authorities!

Not sure what we are talking about? Check out the full story: https://bit.ly/3zb2Mar

Ancient river systems that formed 1000m deep canyon now delivering oil offshore Guyana Updated August 28, 2021 The Berbice River in Guyana, during the early period of the planet’s formation helped “drain” the northern part of South America to form a 1,000 metre deep canyon believed …

Proman announces two additional methanol-powered vessels — Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago Proman has finalised an agreement to build two additional 49,900 dwt methanol dual-fuel MR tankers, bringing its total investment in methanol-powered vessels to six newbuildings. Proman will be the sole owner of the Provident and Progressive , alongside the Promise which is due to be delivered

UPDATE Tuesday 29th June at 00:01 UTC

Adventure 2 still nudging further to a NE heading (now at 036 degrees) and keeping an average speed of 0.7 knots. Still no sign of a different current direction - YET - but she really does have to be so close now.

The last 24 hours was just under 17 miles or around 27 km - easy, easy goes.

University of Guyana to establish Caribbean’s first world-class subsea training centre The University of Guyana, on Thursday, 17 June 2021, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Caribbean Oceanography Aquaculture and Subsea Technology (COAST) Foundation to collaborate o…

UPDATE Thursday 24th June at 00:01 UTC

FABULOUS - FANTASTIC - FANDABBYDOZY

Adventure 2 is continuing to conjure up those 3 words as she continues her return to sanity and safety...northwards on a 018 degree heading and up to 1.7 knots (that is 41 miles or 65 km sailed just yesterday)

Burtle the Turtle doesn't even look as though she is going to stop, but she almost certainly will have to turn shortly...just make sure it is to the East, my girl...that will be to your RIGHT!

UPDATE Friday 18th June at 00:01 UTC.

Captain R R Mee-Heartees has reported Adventure 2 has continued tracking northwards at 0.7 knots average over the last 24 hours - which is really positive and pleasing news.

For those interested, the Autonomous Ship, called MAS400, has left Plymouth, UK bound for Plymouth, USA (for the 400th Anniversary celebrations). She is NOT manned and can be viewed/tracked here:

https://mas400.com/dashboard

We have asked them to divert and attempt to film/photo us, depending on how close her proposed course is - no reply received back from them yet.

At the moment MAS400 will pass nowhere near, but if A2 keeps tracking more and more northwards, you never know...

Currently MAS400 is 2,000 miles east of us but as she nears A2, we will plot her on the same map each morning...if near enough

UPDATE Monday 14th June at midday UTC

Adventure 2 is now heading almost directly north but has slowed right down to 0.4 knots - still on a very positive direction...keep it up, young lady.

We wonder, looking at the map, in what direction she will end up going on?

Happy World Ocean Day! 🌎 🌊
Today is a reminder that the ocean is our life source, supporting humanity & every other organism on earth! It is our responsibility to protect it 💙

UPDATE on Monday 7th June at 00:01 UTC

NO, NO, AND THRICE NO!

Adventure 2 may have speeded up to 0.7 knots, but has now slid down to the ESE and is opening her distance from the main flows of the Gulf Stream.

We have no idea why, but we are now greatly concerned that she may have found yet another core to sail around!!!!

A2, oor wee girlie - why you no behave as expected?

UPDATE Tuesday 1st June at 00:01 UTC

There appears to be an unwanted scenario that may be developing here:

Firstly, Adventure 2 could be still in a core rotating CCW, but she has continued on a SE heading at over 2 knots – hopefully it will be a large core!!!!

Secondly, she could be on her way to the east of Bermuda into the mid-Atlantic Ocean.

We still feel (and hope) as though it is the first option…

UPDATE Friday 21st May 00:01 UTC:

Excellent 24 hours by the looks of it - Adventure 2 is continuing to head to the ENE at 1.6 knots following the main current which is looking as though it is in a stage of break-up due to the colder northerly waters encroaching.

In those 24 hours she has covered 38 miles (61 km) Go Roadrunner 2!

Also, the 1st Storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season appears to be forming - not to worry though, it is 500 miles to the east and will move away to the ENE over the coming days - well ahead of A2.

Today Let's acknowledge the arrival of our Ancestors...without whom we won't be able to say we're the Land of Six Peoples!

Although they faced enormous challenges and trials our ancestors have demonstrated resilience, determination, pride and a commitment to excellence. Let us all take these lessons and strive to always be our best.

Adventure 2 is really motoring along this fast part of the Gulf Stream current - in the last 12 hours she has covered over 50 miles, averaging 4.2 knots! I wonder if that crab is trying to copy Ulises' boat?

Oil and gas technical training centre could help boost deficient human capacity in Guyana – Associate Professor In its pursuit of a robust Local Content Policy, Guyana must be cognizant of its limited human resources while pushing for industry stakeholders to meet high targets. This point was recently made b…

Exxon’s Greater Guyana Initiative brings Zoom Rooms project to University of Guyana The University of Guyana (UG) on Saturday launched its Zoom Rooms project which it says lays down the first building blocks for its blended-learning architecture. The project is part of a gift unde…

Meet the fourth SpeSeas Director, Dr. Diva Amon. Diva is a marine biologist focused on the little-known habitats and animals of the deep ocean, and how our actions are impacting them. Since gaining her PhD from the University of Southampton, UK, she has positioned herself at the nexus of science, policy and communication. She has a deep desire to see stewardship measures applied to the global ocean (especially the deep ocean!), as well as the engagement of a broader group of humankind towards this effort. Diva has participated in research cruises around the world and has an extensive science communication and outreach record, with her work featured on National Geographic, CNN International, BBC World, etc. She is a 2020 National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer, a Pew-Bertarelli Ocean Ambassador, and a World Economic Forum Friends of Ocean Action. Find out more about Diva via her website https://divaamon.com/ and follow her on Twitter too.
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A NEW WORLD RECORD! 🎉
Currently at 6088 km (3,783 miles).

UPDATE at 06:00 UTC Saturday 27th February - this update sees Adventure 2 making good progress since she stopped hugging Cuba to bits # # #.

She is now heading in a beautiful North-East direction and has speeded up to 1.2 knots overnight. She has travelled 24.6 miles (39.5km) since yesterday morning and is a nice big round 200 miles from Miami (expect her to be off the coast there in 4 days time if she can speed up to 2 knots).

She has approximately 42 miles (67 km) to go before shattering her own World Record...sail on, the wee one, sail on

Adventure 2 continues to keep herself just inside the USA side of the borderline with Cuba - she must be waiting for that special moment to move to the right to say "Buenos Dias, Cuba". She has sailed 57 miles (91 km) in the last 24 hours averaging just under 2.4 knots...