Bequia
January 30th, 2011
Jake and Edee visited the Turtle Sanctuary run by a private citizen on Bequia’s coast.
The founder, Orton G (Brother) King, can use a lot of help and is not getting any from the local government there. The center releases the turtles when they are 2-5 years old and divers are reporting sightings in the area after release because of the special marks put on the released turtles.
“It was shocking and inspiring to meet Orton and see what had been achieved by a single, although dedicated, person. His turtle sanctuary is a very magical place with all these wonderful creatures. In some cases, turtles live for over a hundred years. Thanks to this sanctuary!,” Jake said.
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Union Island
January 28th, 2011
Union Island was a beautiful same island but the contacts we made there were significant as the Tobago Cays Park headquarters and Sustainable Grenadines are both located there. Arrived on Saturday eve and therefore the next day being Sunday meant majority of places were not open, so we stayed until Monday morning. So really only a few hours networking, but made this most of short time and spoke with some very interesting people.
A beautiful island and anchorage, surrounded by reef so good snorkeling and swimming. Lots of boats anchored here, cruisers and charter boats. This is a busy place for visiting yachts, charters and day trips.
Small town with everything a short walk away, many local people around and offering services for visitors, including market stalls, fruits and veg, produce, souvenir shops. I am told that there is a big day trip business for tourists from other islands who fly in and then visit the island and/or other islands such as Tobago Cays, which is the protected marine park not far from Union Island. This is hugely popular with visitors and yachts people but the only access is by boat.
Key contacts included: Olando Harvey, Olando is a Marine Biologist and works in the Tobago Cays Marine Park. Union Island Environmental Attackers Inc., Sustainable Grenadines, Inc., A representative from the tourist information, Tobago Cays Marine Conservation Park.
Jake visited some of the yachts anchored. A mixed response from people, but in general a positive interest about the
work of OW.
Jake said: “Volunteering with OceansWatch as a biologist, I have to say I’m really pleased to see the willingness of the yacht community to host scientists in future missions. For the most part, boaters are really well informed in enviromental issues and the need to address them and that’s showing.” Volunteer team member Jake Navarro from Spain
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Grenada
January 26th, 2011
The team spent 10 days in Grenada and made some great contacts in the area. Meetings were held with the Ministry of Health and Environment, Ministry of Education, the local Yacht Club, a large Dive Shop, and several marine related businesses. The team also talked to many cruisers who were in Grenada at the time. A big thank you from the team to Bob Blanc at Clark’s Court Marina for his generous donation to the cause.
Becky said “I think that the yachting community has really become developed in Grenada. I listened to so many views and opinions and that many good things are happening there. Positive initiatives are happening there. It seems to be a favorite area for yachtys. I was able to attend the launch of a new security hotline that brought together several Grenada organizations like the drug squad, local police and coast guard and the marine and yachting association. This is new and will bring positive improvements to the safety and security of the yachting community. This came directly from yachties requests.
I felt that everyone I spoke to whether it was a business or sailor they were very enthusiastic about the vision of OceansWatch.”
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Trinidad
January 26th, 2011
Two weeks in Trinidad, an OceansWatch team member, Edee Dalke, spent two weeks in the Chagaramous area listening to the concern of a few locals who interact with cruisers. A big thank you to Leroy Quildon, Industry Specialist-Yachting Industry Specialist/Business Development Companyfor all of his insight and Gina Hatt-Carvalho, manager of YSATT for help not just with fact finding but also with finding local accommodations.
Edee said “I was really shocked to find out about their trash problems. With the water runoff from rain, city trash runs right into the sea yet locals think this is caused by cruisers. It seems to be out of control and so there is so much to be done. I was also interested to learn that Tobago does not have a marina and that there is a lot of grass roots public relations to do. There is the impression that yachts cause harm to the environment. There is a lot to do.”
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Arrrived……………in Grenada
January 19th, 2011
The team arrived in Grenada a few days ago. The original plan was to head for Trinidad but some last minute 12v power and sail repair requirements caused a change of plan.
Edee has flow in from Trinidad and as soon as the boat’s 100% again they will head north. Watch this space for updates.
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OceansWatch Caribbean Project 2011
October 4th, 2010
Our OceansWatch yacht, skippered by Andy Clarkson and crewed by Becky and Jake departed the Canary Islands just before Christmas and is due into Trinidad about January 10. After a few days R & R the team will be headed slowly up the Caribbean chain, ending in the Dominican Republic in early March.
En route our team will be talking to sailors at anchor, in marinas at yacht clubs to tell all about OceansWatch and our plans for the future in the Caribbean.
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