Veta’s nonprofit Fish ’N Fins focuses on teaching Caribbean children to swim, snorkel, and protect our ocean · Ryan Schuessler
Gearing up for a Fish ’N Fins lesson. Veta wants to reconnect Afro-Caribbean people with the ocean because of her own time growing up in Montserrat, where her family had a deep fear of the water · Veta Wade
Swimming pools are often out of reach for local Caribbeans, creating a barrier to getting more folks to swim. Fish ’N Fins overcomes this challenge by teaching children how to swim in the ocean · Ryan Schuessler
The Fish ’N Fins programs include learning centered on playing a key part in the long-term protection of the ocean · Veta Wade
Today, Fish ’N Fins provides over 2,000 youth across the Caribbean with opportunities to learn about local marine life, sea safety, career progression, ocean justice, and more · Ryan Schuessler
Veta finds that this type of data collection and information sharing “means Black communities can contribute to global knowledge about the topics and places they care about and know best.”
Fish ’N Fins students playing in the sea. Veta believes in deepening the opportunities for the next generation of Afro-Caribbeans to be leaders in the ocean economy · Ryan Schuessler
Veta says, “Black people need to swim and be safe in and around water. Black children need to see Black people being comfortable, adventuring, happy, and prosperous in this space.” · Ryan Schuessler
Veta views the ocean as a core part of the story of Black survival. She offers, “The ocean is directly linked to our health and wellness and livelihoods. It is our protection in increasingly violent storms and hurricanes. It’s time the world sees not just our vulnerability, but truly values our contributions to ocean conservation.”
Veta has carved out her own pathway in marine conservation while encouraging the Afro-Caribbean community to be active in the conversation · Veta Wade
