A signing ceremony presided over by Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine formally introduced Trinidad and Tobago’s National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP)on 16 October 2013. The NOSCP, approved by the Cabinet in January, includes specific language regarding oiled wildlife.
The Wildlife Section of the Forestry Division is designated to oversee oiled wildlife rescue and rehabilitation activities using trained personnel from three NGOs- the Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre, the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago and the Reptile Conservation Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.
The islands have several important sea turtle nesting beaches, as well as mangroves and wetlands where West Indian manatees and large numbers of aquatic birds are found. The plan, which can be accessed in full on the Trinidad and Tobago government site, also addresses specific management concerns for protecting mangroves.