Curtis Antoine continues the fisherman’s lifestyle inherited from his father, passing it on to his son. He speaks with Dr Anjani Ganase, marine scientist and explains how he has adapted his business as harvests from the sea change.
The first time I worked with Curtis Antoine, he was introduced as “Amin” after the Uganda Dictator Idi Amin. This alias given to him during the days of Boy Scouts Jamborees in Trinidad for his serious demeanour stuck and labelled his intensity and the way he commanded attention. The Curtis I came to know is humble, courteous and wise. Safety on the sea is his key characteristic today and it is something he impresses on everyone that comes to his boat. Curtis and his son, Curtis Jr, are the owners-operators of Curtis Boat Tours.
Curtis grew up on the waters around and beyond Charlotteville. When he was supposed to be in school, he would sneak away with his father, who was a fisherman. The sea was his master teacher and he learned everything on the water – how to navigate the boat, catch fish and ultimately use his ocean backyard to provide for his family. He provided the same schooling for his son, who is now 24 years old, and is his father’s partner in running the business. A fisherman at heart, Curtis knows every nook and cranny of the coast and the deep ocean of north-east Tobago.
Today, with over 40 years of fishing under his belt, Curtis reflects on the declines in the fish populations in the area. He continues to fish whenever he can, but Curtis has found other projects out on the water. During the 90s, he began taking divers out to explore the coral reefs. This led to working with marine scientists who would conduct surveys and research in the waters off north-east Tobago. He has worked with scientists from the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the Institute of Marine Affairs, and regularly partners with the Environmental Research Institute of Charlotteville on several research and restoration projects. Through these ventures Curtis has continued to learn from and about the sea.
[caption id="attachment_1017826" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Curtis Antoine, left, Anjani Ganase, and Welldon Mapp, right, from Environmental Research Institute of Charlotteville. - Jonathan Gomez[/caption]
What he now knows as coral bleaching, Curtis has witnessed first hand on the reefs: over the years he has seen the corals lose their colours whenever it gets too hot. Through working with researchers, he now understands the causes of the change, and as a result, he recognises the need to be ocean friendly in his business. Both Curtis and his son understand and welcome the need for fisheries management to protect critical species, such as the parrotfish as well as commercial species. He also appreciates the importance of managing waste to reduce marine pollution.
He is happy to learn from those academics who study and work in the ocean. In a continuous learning cycle, he combines new knowledge with his own experiences and shares practical information with everyone. “There are so many op
