Assessing temporal changes in Marine Protected Areas allows for an evaluation of the cumulative impacts of human and natural activities, yet such evaluations have been limited to coastline changes and mangrove assessments in and around the Buccoo Reef Marine Park (BRMP), Tobago. Stakeholders who utilise the BRMP have indicated drastic changes including the reduction in size of the Nylon Pool, severe coastal erosion and flooding in the Pigeon Point area, and the disappearance of the Sand Bar. Therefore, an assessment of the changes in the BRMP and its zone of influence is critical to inform current and fture management strategies for the Park. 

To address these research gaps, this temporal assessment analysed historical satellite and UAV imagery to determine changes in land use patterns and the extent of key marine habitats in the study area over a 27-year period. Using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), rates of coastline change, net shoreline movement (NSM), linear regression rate (LRR), and end point rate (EPR) were also calculated. The results indicate that drastic changes have occurred in the BRMP and its landward zone of influence. 

Coral reef habitats have decreased in size while other habitats such as seagrasses showed vast increases. Settlement/built-up areas, which were the dominant land use type, increased over the period, along with other land use features including coastal settlement, wastewater treatment facilities and recreational areas. Mangroves and water bodies, however, showed declines in their extent/size. The coastline change assessment indicated a general erosion trend for the area and erosion hotspot areas including Pigeon Point, Buccoo Bay, Buccoo Point and Grange Bay. 

Overall, these changes indicate a dynamic environment where it is likely that land use patterns have affected marine habitats while coastline changes may be driven by ocean currents and climate change. The results from this assessment will also be compiled with results obtained from the concluded socioeconomic assessment and the ecological assessment towards the creation of a Marine Spatial Plan for the Buccoo Reef Marine Park.

Wednesday 27th September, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Shivonne Peters has dedicated her more than 11-year career to protecting the Buccoo Reef Marine Park (BRMP) in Tobago. From 2011 to 2018 she worked as the Marine Park Manager for the Buccoo Reef Marine Park at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). During this period, she produced several policies including the BRMP User Policy. From 2020 to 2021, she worked as Policy Advisor to the Chief Secretary, THA and has also served as Deputy Chairman of the Buccoo Reef Policy Implementation Task Force. She currently works as a consultant, undertaking projects in the Caribbean relating to Sustainable Development Goals and protected area management.

As an avid researcher, Professional Association of Diving (PADI) Advanced Diver and licensed boat launch captain, she has seen first-hand the changes to the Tobago’s coral reefs over the years. Her work has been published in the Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy (CESaRE), the International Education and Culture Studies (IECS) Journal of Marine Science and the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday on a number of marine science-related themes including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) applications for Marine Park monitoring, tourism management and plastic pollution.

Shivonne holds two post-graduate degrees; the first in Environment and Sustainable Development from the University College London (UCL), and the second in Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management from The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). After completing her master’s degree at UTT, Ms. Peters’ resolve to protect the Buccoo Reef was strengthened as she realised the need for zoning, a strategy that is utilised in many successfully managed Marine Parks. She is currently pursuing this study aimed at developing a Marine Spatial Plan for the Buccoo Reef based on socioeconomic, temporal and ecological assessments.