Mermaids are real, and they live in Trinidad

There’s a moment in every ocean advocate’s life when the sea stops being just water, and the waves become something more—something personal.

For me, that moment happened as a child, standing on the shores of Trinidad, watching the ocean breathe. The tide rolled in, then out, each wave carrying stories older than time itself. I felt an undeniable pull, like the sea was calling me home. I didn’t know it then, but that moment set the course of my life.

Growing up, I was always drawn to the ocean. I spent hours on the beach, the only way I ever left being when my parents dragged me out—usually sunburnt, sandy, and protesting the whole way. No matter where I was in the world, it was the one thing I always loved.

You see, my childhood wasn’t spent in just one place. I had a unique upbringing, living across six different countries throughout my life. Born in Ecuador, I lived in Trinidad, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and Australia. Growing up across various regions shaped my perspective in ways few experiences can. It showed me how different countries prioritize, appreciate, and interact with the ocean.

Through it all, my family and I always made sure to visit Trinidad and Tobago at least once a year. This gave me a unique outsider’s perspective on my home country. I saw both its untapped potential and its shortcomings. The very factors other nations longed for—the missing pieces to their full potential—were right here in our own backyard. And in the same breath, the problems we faced were easily solved by other countries. This paradise, which others only experience on vacation, was our permanent home. It made me wonder: if we have everything we need, why haven’t we unlocked our full potential?

Every year we visited, I began to notice the overwhelming amount of plastic and styrofoam in use. Single items were handed out in plastic bags without a second thought. Mountains of plastic bottles littered major roadways and beaches, and restaurants served meals in single-use containers—even when dining in. It wasn’t improving; if anything, it was only getting worse with each passing year.

Despite my love for the ocean, I never considered advocacy as a path. I’ve always had a love for science, but I never knew which specific field to pursue. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school, when tasked with writing an essay of my choice, that I decided to explore the overuse of plastic and styrofoam in Trinidad and Tobago. I dove into the subject without knowing much about it. I realized my initial observations could have been based on misleading vividness or anecdotal fallacy—but they weren’t. I conducted an interview with the manager of the Environmental Management Authority of Trinidad and Tobago and was given access to their private library. It was there I discovered some staggering facts.

One fact that stood out was that Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of about 1.4 million at the time, produced more than double the waste of the United States on a per capita basis. On average, we produced about 1.5 kilograms of plastic waste per person daily, making us one of the largest plastic polluters per capita in the world.

Our tiny island nation, barely a dot on the world map, was generating more waste than one of the largest countries on earth.

This revelation made me realize the dire situation we were facing—and how little the public knew about it. Seeing the evidence firsthand made it impossible to ignore. And so, I didn’t. Instead, I dove in. It became clear to me that I wanted to be the one to learn about our oceans, report about it and be the one to lead change within Trinidad and Tobago.

This lead me to study Marine Science in which I got accepted to study at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. It was there that I was eager to make the most out of the opportunities and society that were significantly more climate cautious and ocean positive than anywhere I had ever been. It was through this that I became an Ocean Youth ambassador, attended events such as Innovocean that fuelled my passion for ocean innovation, entrepreneurship and much more. However, as much as I enjoyed being part of this new found community that I had found myself in ocean entrepreneurs and innovators. I couldn’t help but think why I began this journey to begin with. And that was to take all this newfound knowledge I had to improve my home country.

Like Australia, Trinidad and Tobago shares a deep connection to the ocean. The difference, however, is that while the ocean is deeply woven into our culture, economy, and daily lives, the challenges it faces are often overlooked. But this disparity is precisely what keeps me pushing forward.

Some days, advocacy feels like swimming against the tide. The problems are massive, and change is slow. But then, there are moments that remind me why I do this: seeing young people light up when they learn about the ocean’s role in our climate, watching small businesses consider sustainable alternatives, hearing someone say, "I never thought about it that way before." These are the ripples that will eventually turn into waves.

Through it all, the ocean remains my constant. When things get overwhelming, I return to the water, dive deep beneath the surface, and remember why I started. The ocean has given me everything—purpose, passion, and a deep sense of belonging. As long as I have a voice, I’ll use it to fight for the sea, for the islands I call home, and for generations to come.

So yes, mermaids are real.

They live in Trinidad, in every person who feels the ocean’s pull and in everyone who answers its call.