BEACH POLLUTION

A fishbone cause and effect diagram alternatively known as an Ishikawa diagram is conducted to
garner a more in-depth perspective as to what causes beach pollution in this area and to help provide
the axis upon which we can from recommendations and an action plan. The 6’s M style of fishbone
diagram is employed. These are as follows: Methods, Mother Nature, Management, Machines,
Materials and Manpower.
Methods

Basic forms of beach pollution are where people at the beach leave their garbage behind without
properly disposing of it. There are instances where fishermen and other sea related workers lose their
equipment and/or material to the sea. Also, discharges from all types of sea vessels are a source of
pollution that can affect beaches.
In the Chaguaramas area, some common methods of beach pollution are as follows:

 Public littering
This is where individuals (i.e. beach goers, picnickers, hikers, campers etc.) visit the sea side or beach and leave
their garbage behind without properly disposing of it. Public littering is also caused when fishermen and/or other
workers that are at sea happen to allow their equipment, gadget or material/items to be lost to the sea; or simply
discarded into the sea. Examples of these are fishing nets, fishing lines, rowing paddles, eating and/or drinking
containers, cigarette butts, plastic items etc.

 Runoff from agricultural practices

Agricultural practices in the Chaguaramas community would result in pesticides and fertilizers reaching the
ocean waters. This is a form of water pollution as nitrates and phosphates present in agricultural products would
lead to algal blooms and other detrimental effects to ocean life, inclusive of coral bleaching.
Beach Littering–Retrieved from Institute of Marine Affairs Website

 Oil spills from leakage of sea vessels

The Chaguaramas area is a hub for sea/ocean related activities. The Coast Guard Headquarters and many other
institutions where the ocean forms a major part of its business activities are located in the Chaguaramas area. For
instance, there are many ships and other sea vessels operating and conducting its trade and sometimes these
 vessels leak oil and other fuels resulting in oil spills in the area. This is hazardous to the public at large when
venturing to take a sea bath, and also very destructive to the marine life of the sea and beaches in the area.

Mother Nature

While pollution is inherently caused by anthropogenic activity, Mother Nature’s grasp can draw in such
activity by its cycles. The effect of climate change and global warming brings exacerbates pollution.
Sea level rise can lead to removal of beach mass surface area and this in turn means that there would
be greater pollution.

 Hurricanes and tropical storms

For instance, hurricanes and tropical storms are prevalent in the Caribbean region and while Trinidad has not
been directly affected by a hurricane in recent time the potential effects can be disastrous. High wind speeds can
pick up garbage and deposit them at beach sites leading to pollution

 Wave action
Ironically, wave and ocean action can account for more litter being discarded on the beach. Debris and refuse
materials that are improperly disposed of can travel great spans of distance within the ocean. Sometimes, it is
possible for it to be dislodged or deposited at beaches due to the ocean’s currents and the action of the waves.
This would lead to an increase in the solid waste on the beach as the tides may deposit miscellaneous garbage on
the beach’s shores.

 In recent times for the 2018 rainy season, there has been an increase in rainfall due to the presence of certain
weather conditions such as the ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone)
Weather systems and heavy rainfall
This band of rainfall for a long duration led to the flooding of a lot of areas in Trinidad. The problem of this for
Chaguaramas is that the waters filled with garbage eventually drains to the beach. As the old adage goes “all
rivers lead to the ocean.” Not only would the bay and waters be subjected to solid waste but there may also be
water pollution in the event that floods bring any dissolved chemicals.

Management and Money

Management and money are major causes to the problem on beach water pollution in Trinidad and
Tobago, more specifically Chaguaramas Beach. The Chaguaramas Beach is maintained by the
Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) – a division of the Ministry of Planning and Development.
The task of the CDA is to transform Chaguaramas into “one of the region’s most idyllic investment and
entertainment destinations!” However, locals and foreigners are being deterred from the Chaguaramas
beach due to beach water pollution.
Popular tourist website “Discover Trinidad and Tobago” has listed Chaguaramas beaches as one to
avoid due to its large quantity of yacht and also industry. A report from Institute of Marine Affairs in
2016 has stated that there is sewage in some beaches in Trinidad and Tobago and one of those is
Chaguaramas. Sewage by definition according to Collins dictionary is “waste matter which stems from
both homes and factories and flows away through sewers.”
The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is the body responsible for the disposal of waste water in
Trinidad and Tobago and in the Chaguaramas area there are 5 sewage lifts stations.
There are also laws established by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to ensure proper
disposal of waste.
So how can management and money contribute to beach water pollution in Chaguaramas?

 Inefficient monitoring systems

The Environmental Management Authority has litter Wardens who enforce the law but in the absence of these
wardens it’s possible that waste are being disposed of into the sea. While there are guidelines for proper waste
disposal there is no effective monitoring of the practices of industries, persons and also yacht owners. This
inefficiency will also cause lack of respect for anti- litter legislation. In Trinidad there are anti-litter legislation
and litter wardens to enforce the laws. The Environmental Management Authority Act Chap 35:05 Section 3
 states that littering in public places can cause a person $4000.00 or 6 months imprisonment and a corporation or a
business $8000.00 but garbage are still being left on the beaches by beach goes and the oil spills from industries
are still polluting our beaches.

 Lengthy Bureaucratic System

The complaints of beach visitors have caused cabinet to commit to a four years action plan (2017-2020) to
mitigate the negative impact on both the coastal and also the marine environment. A major management issue is
the length of time it takes to solve a problem. There may also be a delay in release of finances as monies needed
to remedy water pollution issues are not readily available as it needs approval from designated persons. Water
sewage systems can be expensive. In the year 2014, the government spent about 1.2 billion dollars repair
malfunctioning water treatment systems

Political interference in Planning

In Trinidad and Tobago plans change with government and this is evident with both the San-Fernando
now teaching hospital and the now University Hospital in Couva. The vision of administrations may
change resulting in difficulties in setting and executing plans. With regard to the Chaguaramas area
there are conflicts whereby the present administration is scrutinizing the action of the past
administration to grant 15 leases during the period 2010-2015. Recently Minister Robinson Regis
granted leases to farmers in Guave Road Chaguaramas and this has stirred tension with her and the
CDA.

Machinery

 Boats
Boats in general are notorious for their contribution to water pollution. In Trinidad and Tobago with particular
attention to Carenage, water pollution by these boats is a major issue which not only affects individuals who
bathe in nearby waters but also adversely affects the marine life in the form of killing aquatic animals. In
Carenage, There are multiple private boats which docked therefore increasing the likelihood of mishaps.
The major way in which boats contribute to water pollution is by improper fuelling and engine maintenance:
Boats use oil for their engines as well as the combustion of gasoline for its power. The issue occurs when fuelling
and maintenance is not done properly. This in turn causes spillage in the waters which then harm the aquatic life.
Also, these oil and gasoline spills can cause severe harm to the skin of individuals who are bathing in nearby
waters.
 Jet Ski
Also similar to boats, jet skis also uses oil and gasoline to ensure its functioning. Chaguaramas and Caranage
beaches in an attempt to attract tourists have Jet Ski rental for recreational purposes. These jet skis are potentially
hazardous to the beach environment when improper maintenance and fuelling of the machines are required. Fuel
may fall into the water when trying to refuel or even oil leakages due to improper maintenance of the engines
which kills marine life as well as cause potential damage to individuals bathing in the waters. Also another
prominent issue is potential debris left in the water due to broken parts of the jet skis. These parts can be harmful
when it comes in contact which humans or aquatic life therefore causing injury.
 Lack of recycling machinery
In Trinidad and Tobago, there is a lack of recycling initiatives. Other first world countries has technology in
place on beach fronts which allow individuals to recycle their unwanted materials and is then rewarded with
small monetary compensation as an incentive to encourage the action. Trinidad and Tobago’s culture is heavily
based on monetary compensation. Having recycling machinery on beach shores will allow citizens to contribute
to the clean-up of the beach hereby reducing pollution.

Materials

Types of materials used are a big part of the coastal pollution problem plaguing the world today.
Studies have shown that about 80 percent of marine pollution comes from the land. One of the main
ways to reduce marine pollution is to dispose of rubbish carefully, wherever we are. If we reduce the
amount of rubbish we make on the land it is likely that there will be less rubbish in the ocean.
Some organisations are working hard to reduce rubbish too. The Caribbean has recently been making
 moves to ban certain materials like Styrofoam and plastic and Massy Supermarket has started a new
initiative to reduce plastic bags by charging $0.50 for every plastic bag needed. Some organisations
are using science and technology to discover ways to use recycled items in their products. Also many
organisations are reducing their rubbish by recycling their waste.

 Causes of increased pollution at Chaguaramas beach are as follows:

High usage of non-biodegradable materials (plastic, Styrofoam)
People who visit the beaches often carry food, snacks and drinks and most of these come in plastic packaging or
they use Styrofoam or plastic wares when eating. This adds to the pollution problem because the amount of waste
may outweigh the amount of available bins and so people may resort to littering.
 Debris from the Effects of Flooding
When we litter our surroundings, whether it’s the streets, mountain tops or even our own backyards, these may
end up in the ocean or beaches when it rains and the country undergoes a flooding situation, as we have
experienced in recent times. Debris from the streets and the land is washed down to the sea and beaches via our
drains and other watercourse causing the beaches and seaside to be polluted with the litter.
 Use of the beach as a dock for water vessels
The Chaguaramas area is a popular area for the presence of a Yachtie community where these people/boat
owners anchor their boats in the waters close to the land and live in their boats. As a result, there is a problem of
human waste disposal from time to time. There is evidence to show that not all yachts are equipped with or has
properly functioning pump-out facilities to discard human waste. Therefore, at times, human waste is dumped
overboard. This is not hygienic since the yachts are in close proximity to land/beaches, and there are instances
where human waste was observed floating around near the beaches in full view of the sea bathing public.

Manpower

 Lack of care from visitors:

From this viewpoint, it can be said that the people themselves are the primary cause of beach pollution not only
in the area of Chaguaramas, or even in the country of Trinidad and Tobago but in the entire world. We will focus
our gaze on to Williams Bay and Macqueripe Beach. This is alarming since both areas are quite popular for
locals and tourists alike. The visitors of these beaches are directly responsible for the disposal of rubbish on the
beaches. If we take a look at Macqueripe there was a post that went viral about a year ago that highlighted just
how unattractive the bay has become which is not a good look for tourism in the country entirely.
 We have large quantities of people carrying plastic materials such as bottles, cups, plates and worst of all bags
which either float out to sea or remain in the shallow parts of the water where most people stand or swim.
Knowing you are swimming in water filled with rubbish would not make a vast majority of society feel
comfortable when visiting these areas but it is their own fault that this is occurring. This garbage in the water is
also hazardous to the marine life such as fishes or sea turtles that can get trapped in the plastic bags and unable to
escape, they aren’t able to freely swim and feed or do anything else they are required to live which means they
would eventually die as a result of the pollution caused by the visitors of the beach. In addition, there are cases
where people leave glass materials such as bottles in the water which is greatly hazardous to people walking
around in it. They can be severely injured as the glass can puncture their skin causing open cuts which then opens
the door for infection as the garbage that people throw in the water can also bring about the rise in bacteria. This
can all be encompassed within a statement that people are not cognisant of their dangerous practices while on
these beaches.
 Desensitization to waste disposal protocol
A report from the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) stated that certain portions of Maracas Bay and other popular
beaches are contaminated with sewage which creates a grave hazard for beach-goers as a great amount of
bacteria and harmful microorganisms are now lurking within the water that people swim in.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for methods

1.When venturing to the beaches of Chaguaramas or any other beach in Trinidad and Tobago, you
must develop the habit of taking all your rubbish or litter with you when leaving the area. This will serve
to promote a clean environment.
2. The Chaguaramas Development Authority, the body responsible for the development of the area
need to provide more garbage bins as far as possible for litter to be placed and also have proper
procedure in place to have the bins emptied on a regular basis. Litter Wardens should also be placed
at these facilities from time to time to enforce the law so that people are forced to comply with keeping
a clean scene.

3. Educating the public in the area of beach pollution and the environment in general is important,
people need to be aware of how their lifestyle habits can be changed in order to prevent flooding other
discomfort to others. Also, people need to reduce-reuse-recycle plastic products and only buy the
plastics that are biodegradable.

4.Vessels that are not seaworthy which causes severe oil leaks should be heavily fined and also be
discouraged from operating in the Chaguaramas waters or even decommissioned as the case may be.
Oil spills are not only hazardous to all concern but also very costly to restore.

5. Before a yacht is given permission to anchor in our waters it must be thoroughly inspected by health
and transport officials to ensure that it is up to mark and all disposal facilities are properly intact to
avoid a situation of improper waste disposal. If the vessel is not up to mark, it should not be allowed to
anchor until the problem is fixed.

Recommendations for materials

The best place to start is with YOU. You can reduce your rubbish at home and at school by recycling
paper, glass, cans and some plastic containers. In terms of the role of materials in reducing coastal
pollution, the following are recommendations:

1. Throw away your Trash.

This may seem like an obvious tip, but you would be surprised at how many people leave their trash
behind. Picking up your trash goes a long way towards in preventing beach pollution and keeping a
coastline’s ecosystem healthy. Trash is often left in the sand, which leads to the contamination of the
water and endangers marine life. Sadly, tens of thousands of marine animals each year are harmed by
trash that disrupts the delicate food chain in our lakes, rivers and oceans. Each time you pick up a
piece of trash on the beach, you are saving an animal’s life!

2. Avoid bringing Plastic.

The majority of trash that is found on beaches is plastic food containers. Plastic is extremely harmful to
marine life because it never truly breaks down and is toxic. Birds, sea turtles and other marine life
often perceive plastic as food. Using reusable metal water bottles and cloth shopping bags are the
best way to preserve and protect a beach ecosystem.

3. Avoid Creating Obstacles for Animals.

Chairs, umbrellas and blankets may seem harmless but can potentially injure animals. They can
interrupt some animal’s natural paths, for example; sea turtles hatchlings traversing the sand towards
the water. This is why it’s extremely important to leave nothing behind.

4. Pack a Zero-Waste Lunch.

You should store food in reusable lunch containers or wrapped in paper and put liquids in a large
container or small reusable bottle.

5. Before a yacht is given permission to anchor in our waters it must be thoroughly inspected by health
and transport officials to ensure that it is up to mark and all disposal facilities are properly intact to
avoid a situation of improper waste disposal. If the vessel is not up to mark, it should not be allowed to
anchor until the problem is fixed.
Recommendations for money and management
1 Regular Beach Clean ups

Citizen’s voluntary efforts to clean the beach have proven to be very helpful in reducing beach water
pollution. This will be encouraged by implementing an accredited voluntary certification programme.
This certificate should be given to persons engaged in voluntary work.

2 Legal

There should be harsher penalties for persons businesses/ corporations who contribute towards water
pollution. This should be implemented with immediate effect and the Ministry of Legal affairs should be
responsible for this.

Recommendations for machinery

All recommendations stated below are to rectify problems caused by boats and jet skis.

1. Have training programs to teach proper way to maintain boats and jet skis. These training initiatives
will reduce the potential mistakes made when trying to maintain boats and jet skis or even fuelling
them. As a result of reducing mistakes, marine life will also be

2. Government can have special services provided to the owner of boats and jet skis. These services
will include trained individuals who has expertise in maintain and fuelling of boats and jet skis
preferably at a lower cost than private companies to increase attraction for the service. By offering a
low cost, professional service of fuelling and maintaining, this will allow for the reduction in mistakes
made hence possibly reducing water pollution.

3. Inspection of boats and jet skis should be a priority by the relevant authorities. These inspections
should be an overall check of the machine to ensure all is working well. By ensuring this, this may
alleviate the changes of engine failure or potential leakage of oil and gasoline from the engine. Checks
should be mandatory every 6 months to increase the likelihood of solving problems.

4. The government of Trinidad and Tobago needs to provide recycling machines on the beach fronts.
By implementing these machines, individuals will be encouraged to dispose of unwanted products
properly which will reduce the pollution of the beach fronts.

CONCLUSION
After conducting this analysis from the fishbone diagram we generated recommendations and
produced an informed action plan. There was a lot of insight derived from this overall analysis. We
discovered that by using the 6 M approach for cause and effect we were able to gain a macro
understanding by collectively viewing all the factors. The fishbone diagram not only provides an
accurate visual representation of the key points covered but to the casual reader it also gives an
adequate overview. We also noticed that some of the recommendations had significant overlaps with
each other which was quite insightful to know as that there are common linkages to solve multiple
problems. In application of this we tailored our action plan to merge a multifocus scope in order to
provide the relevant authorities with an inform way forward to addressing the causes of beach pollution
in Chaguaramas.

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