Whenever Waltnel Sosa visits his parents in Tobago, fishing is always a priority on his agenda.

Sosa, 43, admits he is not versed in the activity, but finds it relaxing.

On August 17, the Canaan native walked to his usual spot along the beach, behind the Sandy Point resort, Crown Point, for what he thought would be an enjoyable morning of fishing.

But his plan was derailed by the discovery of a dugout canoe (a boat made from a hollowed tree) a short distance from the shore.

He said within 24 hours of that find, another canoe was found on the shore of a beach close to the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands.

Sosa believes the find could set the groundwork for a different type of tourism in Tobago as the island prepares to rebuild its economy, post-covid19.

“I think people will pay top dollar for data-driven, cultural tourism,” an excited Sosa said in a Sunday Newsday interview.

“If I were to go to a place, I want to find out about its history. I want to understand its story. I don’t just want to sit on a beach. That type of tourism people pay a premium for.”

Now, moves are afoot to determine the origin of the canoes, which has elicited numerous responses from history buffs, heritage-based organisations and average citizens alike on social media.

Sosa recalled when he got to the beach shortly after 6 am, fishing enthusiasts Kern “Ras” Salina and Anderson “Fat Boy” Roberts had already spotted the canoe below a thorn tree.

The men, Sosa said, figured he would be interested in the find.

[caption id="attachment_910013" align="alignnone" width="768"] One of two canoes that was found floating on a beach in Tobago. The Tobago Heritage Conservation Society is researching its origin. -[/caption]

“When I saw the canoe, I thought it was amazing and I immediately took some pictures of it from different angles. Being from Tobago, I am fascinated by things – waterwheels, windmills – and hearing stories from my father who is into archaeological type of stuff. So I guess I am curious by nature.”

Sosa said the canoe did not appear to have been buried, because it was in reasonably good condition. But he noticed that a lot of water hyacinths (floating aquatic herb indigenous to tropical South America) had washed up on the shore that day.

“I know that those are usually found in rivers in South America, so my assumption is that whatever brought down the canoe washed down the water hyacinths as well.”

He recalled Amerindian artefacts were discovered further along the beach some years ago.

“I felt that experts had to be consulted to determine if the canoes should be put in a museum as part of Tobago’s cultural heritage, because It is important for the country to figure out where this thing was from.”

But Sosa said he did not know who to contact. He brought the issue to the attention of his father, retired school principal Noel Sosa, and several others.

One man, he said, suggested an employee at the Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation but they got no response. Another felt Radi