Future Fishers is a registered non-profit organisation, established to improve sustainable use and management of Trinidad and Tobago’s coastal and marine resources while improving the opportunities for better governance, economic growth and social advancement of the fishing community. As a forward-thinking organisation, we are dedicated to working with local, national and other key stakeholders to achieve national and global targets set for protecting the environment, creating livelihood opportunities and improving the long-term sustainability of our natural resources. The need for such an approach is particularly urgent in small island states and coastal communities that are challenged by a declining fish stock, limited value adding activity, social exclusion and the increasing incidence and severity of climate events linked to global warming and climate change.
The term Future Fishers emphasises a new way of thinking among stakeholders that involve collaboration, cooperation, capacity building and collective decision making championed by our organisation. We strive to think differently about the future of the stock and other natural assets and how we can positively impact these coastal resources.
We intend to bridge the perennial gap between stakeholders in research, governance and local implementation. It is our view that this void makes all stakeholders vulnerable as their collective capabilities are not being realised for the better management of the coastal and marine resources.
Our mission is to create sustainable use and management of our coastal and marine resources while improving opportunities for better governance, economic growth and social advancement through an empowered fishing community.
We envision a nation where our coastal and marine ecosystems are sustainably managed by responsible fishers.
Future Fishers was born out of a conversation that took place on Mission Beach, Toco, on the 17th September 2017. The discussion took place with four individuals including three fishers – Anderson Zoe from Matelot, Eric Miller from Toco and Don Miguel Pavy from Cumana – and Dennis Sammy from the NGO sector. This discussion was influenced by comments from President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Fisherfolk Organisation, Mr Joslyn Lee Quay, who observed there was no Trinidad East Coast representation at the national level. He recognised that the views of the East Coast Fishers are essential and their support is needed to take the fisheries sector forward.
The topics discussed were:
After much debate about how to address these issues, a collective decision was taken to incorporate an NGO to provide leadership and to create a bigger vision towards which fishers and coastal communities could work. A recommendation for the name was made and accepted to be “Future Fishers”.
7The Board of Directors of Future Fishers currently comprises 7 directors of which there are 4 officers. The positions of Chair, the Vice Chair, the Secretary and a Treasurer are selected on an annual basis. Directors are chosen on the basis of their skills and technical expertise and how these meet organisational needs. As a show of support, the Fisheries Division has approved a Senior Fisheries Officer to assist in guiding the Board in its fisheries decision-making processes.
Dr. Alexander received his Bachelor’s Degree in Middle-Level Education (Mathematics and Science) at Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina. He obtained his PhD in Educational Psychology from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana where he specialized in Applied Measurement and Research Methods. Upon completion of his degree, Dr. Alexander returned to Trinidad and Tobago where he worked temporarily as a Secondary Mathematics Teacher Educator at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus. Dr. Alexander’s substantive areas of research interest are scale development and implementation, psychometric testing, academic achievement in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean, and large-scale data analysis. He has both published his work in peer-reviewed journals and presented at regional and international conferences. Dr. Alexander currently resides with his wife in Manzanilla and is currently establishing two agriculture-based businesses.
Lori Lee Lum was employed at the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) for 39 years in the fields of research and environmental education. She began as a Research Officer and later took up the post of Community Education Officer. She has local and international publications on sea turtle conservation, marine algae, and seashore life ecology of Trinidad and Tobago.
Her seminal research examined turtle bycatch in the local gillnet fishery. She developed, co-ordinated, and taught a conservation programme ‘The Sea and Me’, for 14 years with four primary schools in Carenage and Point Cumana, Trinidad. She helped design and implement the national Lionfish Public Awareness campaign and managed the production of IMA’s annual Tidal Calendar.
Mrs. Lee Lum has experience in project management, verbal and written communication through mass media, writing articles for science and for the general public, and the creation of marine-related educational material. She retired from the IMA in 2018 and continues to volunteer at IMA’s school outreach programme.
Hannah Roberts is an attorney-at-law in Trinidad and Tobago, dedicated to advancing legal advocacy and youth empowerment. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School, being called to the bar in 2022.
She has served in key legal roles, including at the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Education’s Legal Services Department.
In 2024, through her Beauty with a Purpose initiative, Hannah launched the “It Takes a Village” project in collaboration with Future Fishers. This initiative featured three key components: “Teach a Child to Fish,” “Community Love,” and a Legal Aid Clinic, all aimed at empowering youth, fostering community support, and providing access to legal services.
Dennis Paul Sammy is a conservation and community development practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in environmental management, sustainable livelihoods, organisational development and fisheries governance in Trinidad and Tobago. He currently serves as Project Manager and Director of Future Fishers, where he leads programme development, grant management and the expansion of digital systems that support sustainable fisheries management, including the development of FISHNET, the Caribbean’s first online fisheries information system.
A recipient of the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) for Loyalty and Devoted Service in the sphere of Environment, Dennis Sammy has held leadership roles across several national and regional organisations, including Nature Seekers, CANARI and the Council of Presidents of the Environment (COPE). He has managed large-scale conservation, community development and protected area initiatives, while mentoring community organisations and supporting governance, strategic planning and institutional strengthening. His work focuses on building local capacity, advancing environmental governance, applying technology to resource management and creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities. Through his leadership, he has helped strengthen conservation organisations, empower coastal communities and promote collaborative approaches to natural resource management throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
Anderson is employed with the Ministry of Education as a high school teacher in Matelot Community College. He is also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Fisherfolk Association. He is a strong community advocate for local representation, sports, Culture, rural development, community development, working with youths, education, tourism and agriculture. He aims to use these themes to champion the various causes within his community and by extension the country.
Don Miguel Pavy is a respected commercial fisher from Cumana, Trinidad, with more than 35 years of experience in the fisheries sector. Widely known as “Uncle Bosiey”, he is recognised for his leadership, mentorship and commitment to sustainable fishing practices. As a boat owner, gear specialist and marine engine technician, he has supported generations of fishers by sharing technical knowledge, repairing equipment and helping maintain livelihoods across coastal communities.
Don Miguel is a Founding Director of both Future Fishers and the East Trinidad Cooperative Society Limited, where he has helped promote sustainable fisheries management, cooperative development and value-added fish products. He has played a leading role in initiatives to reduce sea turtle bycatch, protect marine habitats and encourage responsible harvesting practices, including the use of standard mesh-sized nets. Through his work with fishers, researchers and conservation organisations, he has demonstrated that strong livelihoods and healthy marine ecosystems can go hand in hand. His practical leadership, dedication to community development and commitment to conservation have made him a trusted role model throughout Trinidad and Tobago’s fishing sector.
