21/11/2025
Did You Know? Coastal Erosion is Accelerating in Trinidad and Tobago
While natural coastal erosion is a normal geological process, in Trinidad and Tobago it is being accelerated by human activity and climate change. Illegal sand mining — the unregulated removal of sand from beaches and river mouths — strips away natural buffers that protect the coast from wave action. At the same time, the loss of mangrove forests, which stabilise shorelines and absorb storm surges, has left many areas more vulnerable to erosion. Rising sea levels, driven by global climate change, are compounding these pressures by pushing the high-tide line further inland.
The impacts are especially visible in communities such as Mayaro, Cedros and Blanchisseuse, where the shoreline is retreating rapidly. Homes are at risk of collapse, agricultural lands are becoming unusable and important coastal ecosystems — including turtle nesting sites and fisheries — are being lost.
To build coastal resilience, it is essential to halt destructive practices like sand mining and clearing of mangroves, while investing in the restoration of natural vegetation such as mangroves, seagrasses and coastal trees. These ecosystems not only reduce erosion and
storm damage but also support biodiversity and local livelihoods. Protecting and restoring nature-based coastal defences is one of the most cost-effective and sustainable strategies to safeguard communities in the face of climate change.
Coastal erosion reduces the aesthetic value of beaches, often impeding tourism industry and associated recreational activities. The IMA continues to conduct monitoring studies and research work of beaches and bays across Trinidad and Tobago.
Reference: IMA (2022). Coastal Erosion and Vulnerability Assessment.
fans Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Environmental Management Authority CARIRI - The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute Environmental Policy and Planning Division TT UWI St. Augustine UN Trinidad & Tobago United Nations Development Programme - UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme Trinidad and Tobago International Coastal Cleanup Trinidad & Tobago Beaches Gayap Cleansing Association BGCA