Heightened economic and social development, coupled with the growing demands of an increasing population, contribute to our islands' environmental degradation, particularly in the marine and coastal areas. Development in the business, industrial and tourism sectors in Trinidad and Tobago is proceeding at a rapid rate. In spite of being a small island state, we are at present the largest producer of ammonia in the world and the second largest producer of methanol. In addition to this, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago are increasingly in demand as tourist destinations, with yacht arrivals at Chaguaramas almost tripling over the last five years. Land-based marine pollution arises from domestic, agricultural, industrial and municipal sources.
Industrialized areas generate an array of wastes in significant quantities.
These include a variety of chemicals from specific industries, lubricating oils, water treatment wastes, solid wastes, and cooling water, which may result in elevated water temperatures in the sea areas where it is discharged. Unfortunately, Trinidad's rivers are also popular dumping sites for a variety of domestic garbage. The sight of old appliances, bags of chicken feathers, or discarded tyres in river beds and ravines is not uncommon. Much of the garbage that is at the roadside or thrown out of car windows is eventually washed into drains and thence to the sea. Tourism and the use of resources by locals also contribute to land based pollution, by virtue of increased populations in many coastal areas of Trinidad.