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Marine Spatial Plan for the Gulf of Paria

Marine Spatial Plan · Gulf of Paria

Planning the Gulf, together.

A step-by-step process shaping how the Gulf of Paria is understood, used, and planned — with the people who live, work, and depend on it.

  • 7,800

    km² of Gulf waters

  • 5

    phases in the planning process

  • 3

    years from scoping to adoption

  • 1

    shared plan for everyone

What is MSP

A shared way of planning the sea.

Marine Spatial Planning is how communities, industries, and governments decide together what happens where in the ocean — so people, livelihoods, and ecosystems can thrive side by side. This plan is led by the Institute of Marine Affairs, funded by UNDP / GEF.

Understand

Bring together science, history, and lived knowledge of the Gulf as it's used today.

Listen

Fishers, shippers, communities, scientists, and government — every voice shapes the plan.

Plan together

A shared map for the Gulf — coordinated, transparent, and built to evolve.

Where we are now

The plan, step by step.

Marine Spatial Planning happens in clear, sequential phases. We're currently in stakeholder engagement — listening to communities, industries, and agencies before any lines are drawn on the map.

  1. 01

    Scoping & baseline science

    Complete

  2. 02

    Stakeholder engagement

    In progress

    Now
  3. 03

    Draft plan & mapping

    Up next

  4. 04

    Public consultation

    2026

  5. 05

    Final plan & adoption

    2027

The Gulf of Paria

A sea shared by everyone who depends on it.

From small-scale fishers in Cedros to ports at Point Lisas, from mangroves and reefs to oil and gas operations — many people and uses share the same waters. Planning together is how we make sure it works for all of them, today and for generations to come.

  • Fishing & small-scale fisheries
  • Shipping lanes & port operations
  • Energy infrastructure
  • Coastal communities & heritage
  • Mangroves, reefs & ecosystems
  • Tourism, recreation & culture
NGulf of PariaTRINIDAD

Latest from the process

What's happening now.

Workshop

Fisherfolk gather in Cedros to map traditional fishing grounds

12 March 2026

Update

Spring 2026 stakeholder briefing now open

04 March 2026

Briefing

What we heard: winter 2025 consultations

20 February 2026

Coming up

Meet us in person.

  • 28Mar

    Public consultation · Chaguaramas waterfront

    4–8 PM · Drop-in

    Chaguaramas, Trinidad

  • 11Apr

    Community workshop · San Fernando

    6–8 PM

    San Fernando Waterfront

  • 02May

    Stakeholder briefing · Cedros depot

    5–7 PM

    Cedros, South Trinidad

Get involved

The Gulf is everyone's. Help shape its plan.

Share your perspective

Submit feedback, anonymously or signed. Tell us what matters about the Gulf — fishing grounds, heritage sites, concerns, hopes.

Open the form

Attend a session

Drop into a public consultation or community workshop. No registration needed — just show up.

See the calendar

Stay in the loop

Subscribe to occasional updates — never more than once a month, never spam.

Subscribe below

Stay in touch

Subscribe, or send us a note.

Get short, occasional updates as the plan develops. For partnerships, media, or general questions, the project team reads every message.

Email the team

msp@ima.gov.tt

Institute of Marine Affairs

Hilltop Lane, Chaguaramas

Common questions

  • Will my fishing grounds be off-limits?

    No decisions have been made. The plan starts from what's already happening — including where you fish — and any changes are co-designed with the people affected.

  • How are decisions made?

    Through layered consultation: technical studies, stakeholder workshops, public sessions, and a formal review before adoption.

  • Who runs this process?

    The Institute of Marine Affairs, with funding from UNDP / GEF, in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies.