16/08/2025
๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค
The Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development, together with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), Trinidad and Tobago Regiment (TTR), Tobago Emergency Management Authority (TEMA), and Public Health officials, successfully executed Operation Reef Shield, a targeted crackdown to uphold the Preservation & Enhancement Act and safeguard the Buccoo Reef Marine Park.
This coordinated initiative targeted the Buccoo Reef Marine Park with the goal of strengthening compliance, protecting Tobagoโs unique marine ecosystem, and ensuring the safety of all who utilise the area.
The joint exercise revealed several areas of non-compliance and immediate enforcement actions were taken:
โข Boats inspected, (5) fines were issued for overcrowding and (2) suspensions were handed down for missing safety equipment.
โข Unlicensed vendors shut down and narcotics and alcohol seizures made.
โข Jetskis impounded for violations within the reef zone.
โข Food vendors found non-compliant and ordered closed until corrective measures are implemented.
Commenting on the initiative, Secretary of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development, Assemblyman Nathisha Charles-Pantin, emphasized: โ๐โ๐ ๐ต๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ฆโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ข๐๐. ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.โ
The Division thanks all stakeholders for their cooperation and reaffirms its commitment to safe-guarding Tobagoโs natural heritage for generations to come.
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