This is through the recently launched OECS Sustainable Livelihoods Project sub-project, which aims to provide employment opportunities specifically for low income households in the Tobago Cays Marine Park (TCMP) area. 

 The event,  at the Hugh Mulzac Square on Union Island, involved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the TCMP Board as the National Implementation Coordinating Entity (NICE) for the OPAAL project, and the Site Implementation Entity (SIE) put in place to assist in execution of OPAAL at the site level.  It is hoped that the MOU will alleviate major problems such as unsustainable livelihood practices in and around the TCMP which have caused negative impacts on the marine environment as well as on the community spirit. The overuse of the natural resource base in certain areas, the illegal removal of coral for souvenirs and the damage by humans to the coral habitat are also major environmental concerns. The endorsement of this MOU followed an official handing over of a vessel to the Park.  

The OECS Secretariat’s OPAAL Project through its Small Grants Facility (SPF), is funding the sub- project which is also benefiting from in house resources from the TCMP as well as private sector and donor support.

Entrepreneurial (small business) support is a component of the Tobago Cays Marine Park sub-project. Training, another component, will further assist in the areas of tour guiding, art and craft, sea-moss farming, customer service, small business management and boat building. Water taxi operators and the Southern Grenadines Water Taxi Association are to be given special attention as a result of the diversity of livelihood activities this group undertakes.

The TCMP will also create an extensive public awareness component with emphasis initially on raising awareness about the Tobago Cays sustainable livelihoods sub-project. The OECS Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) will offer technical assistance to implement the campaign. In addition ESDU will assist in facilitating management of the sub-project which will be primarily handled by the TCMP in collaboration with relevant Government Ministries, Agencies and Community Based Organisations.

Overall, the livelihoods sub-project is expected to ensure that eligible, affected persons are assisted in their efforts to restore or improve their livelihoods in a manner that maintains the environmental integrity of the proposed protected areas.  The OPAAL project aims to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity of global importance in six participating OECS countries namely Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines The OPAAL project is executed in partnership with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) acting as an Implementing Agency of the GEF, the Government of  France, and the Organisation of American States (OAS).