People will get to hear from one of the leading ecologists in the Caribbean, Lanya Fanovitch, at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

Ms Fanovitch is the senior ecologist of the Environmental Research Institute of Charlotteville, based in Tobago. She will be speaking on Saturday as part of the BUEI’s eight-part Island Sustainable Ocean Strategies series. Ms Fanovitch’s talk will be the sixth instalment in the series.

According to a statement, the mission of ERIC is “to value and integrate diverse knowledge and experience to manifest a mutually beneficial relationship between the coastal communities and ecosystems of north-east Tobago”.

ERIC also provides certified dive training with environmentally conscious divers, engages in sea turtle conservation initiatives with North East Sea Turtles, also based in Tobago, and provides unique flora and fauna tours of north-east Tobago.

BUEI CEO Karla Lacey said the relationships fostered between ERIC and the local Tobago community is an “exemplary effort of how other island nations can similarly work with their communities while managing commercial interests”.

Each presentation in the Island SOS series focuses on a different island and topic, ranging from beach management master planning to balancing community and cultural interests.

Tickets for the presentations, which also feature Q&A sessions with the speakers, are $15 for BUEI members and $20 for non members. To reserve a space, call the BUEI’s Ocean gift shop on 294-0204 or e-mail info@buei.bm.

The talk is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 4pm.