Gov’t claims 7MB is safe from dock
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has refuted concerns raised by coral reef experts at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute on Little Cayman, claiming that the scientists’ warnings about Seven Mile Beach being at risk from the cruise port are wrong. The CIG stated that the CCMI findings were “at odds with all the available scientific evidence”, and produced what it described as a “detailed technical paper in response” to the reef experts’ warning about the destruction of coral and its impact on sand accumulation.
The paper appears to be based on the analysis carried out by Baird & Associates, who were paid by government to conduct an environmental impact assessment in 2015 on previous potential designs.
Government had said publicly on a number of occasions before the assessment was undertaken that if Grand Cayman’s famous beach was at risk, it would not proceed with the project to develop cruise berthing facilities in the George Town Harbour.
The consultants found that because Seven Mile Beach “appears to be supplied by sand coming round the northwest corner of the Island” and sand being sourced from the nearshore or fringing reefs, it was not at risk from this project.
Baird said in the report, “There is no apparent sediment transport linkage between George Town Harbour and Seven Mile Beach, therefore the proposed project is not expected to have any impact… Fluctuations in the beach width will continue but the proposed project will not cause any changes in the erosion or deposition patterns along 7MB.”
On Friday government issued a statement as well as the paper, and said that Baird’s findings supported even older research from a study by R. Seymour in 2000 for the Department of Environment and the Beach Erosion Committee, which Baird used in its report.
But the government did not address the main point made by CCMI, that the general destruction of coral reefs has an impact on Grand Cayman’s overall sand accumulation, regardless of currents.
The government also denied the evidence of CCMI and worldwide research that shows coral relocation is notoriously difficult and that most efforts show a mortality rate of around 80% after two years.
Government claims its technical paper examines all the available experience and found one study that looked at “91 direct coral transportation projects”, which had found “overall, direct transportation studies reported an average survival of 64%, with 20% reporting >90% survival of transported corals”.
It also looked at work in Cayman where coral fragments that had been broken and disturbed by vessel anchors and ship hulls were moved and relocated and where studies had have reported an 89% survival of tagged specimens in the West Bay site two years following the restoration.
“Coral colonies that survive for a year or more in good condition following reattachment are likely to mimic natural survival patterns of unaffected corals in future years,” the government claimed. “The same coral species in the same vicinity relocated by the same teams may provide the best evidence of likelihood of success for this project.”
Premier Alden McLaughlin, who has made it clear that he is going to pursue the cruise port venture regardless of the controversies, admitted that putting information into the public domain ahead of the referendum was critical
“As we move towards a referendum on Cayman’s port project, it is vitally important that the information put to the public reflects detailed scientific evidence rather than unfounded claims,” he said. “The fact is that Seven Mile Beach will not be impacted by the project. At the same time, we will be working towards no net loss of biodiversity in line with the objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan.”
McLaughlin took aim at the world famous marine research centre. adding, “I am unclear as to why CCMI, itself a respected scientific institution, has released misleading information in the way that it has. We have shared our technical report with CCMI and we have invited them to talk with us about their concerns.
However, despite the premier’s indication that information is important, he has failed to respond to five requests for information about the project from the activists behind the campaign that has triggered a people-initiated referendum on the cruise project.
See the CIG statement and its technical paper in the CNS Library
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Category: Local News
“Baird said in the report, “There is no apparent sediment transport linkage between George Town Harbour and Seven Mile Beach, therefore the proposed project is not expected to have any impact… ”
The key words are “apparent” & “expected” both offer wiggle room in their opinion instead of definitive analysis. Of course the sand along 7 mile beach moves and shifts and digging a hole in front of George Town will have no effect.
The irresponsibility of the government knows no bounds.
Hope everyone on here actually goes out and vote when the time comes!!
It doesn’t take much sense to see the hidden agendas behind this port when they are blatantly ignoring the Caymanian people’s opinion & now scientists. They are missing the bigger picture aka Climate Change & it won’t be them suffering but we will have face the consequences if we gamble with our environment which is what lures most tourist to Cayman. #NoDockNeeded
Just reading the current news stories you’ve got to wonder just how secure the future of any part of the tourism industry is.
We’ve had the (thankfully so far fairly ineffective) attacks on Saudi oil fields and the sudden collapse of holiday giant Thomas Cook . Cruise ships need vast amounts of fuel to keep operating (it’s reckoned Oasis of the Seas burns over 11000 gallons an hour) – what happens if that supply dries up or prices skyrocket? If Thomas Cook can fold who might go next?
I’ve worked in a couple of tourist areas that went from boom to bust almost overnight. It’s not a pretty sight when things go belly up, the staff are all laid off and the $millions invested in resorts and infrastructure ends up sitting idle. There’s also a knock on effect to the local community as the money supply dries up, spending falls off and crime increases.
The basic premise of the dock is that it’s going make us all a lot of money. Taking aside my cynical suspicion that what is will really do is make a few rich people even richer how confident can we be sure that this is true? Based on recent news I’d say not very.
We’re talking about a 20 to 30-year timescale on this project and it’s costings. How many of the people making the decisions will still be around then? If they get it wrong their legacy isn’t exactly going to be one that future generations thank them for is it?
I have lost ALL respect for this government. I have lost all HOPE for this government. If there we’re ever a time to be patriotic in the face of turmoil it’s now. This government is ruining the Cayman Islands for their own greedy agendas. To hell with them. All of them.
as somebody who is on the fence on this issue….cig win this round imo based on all information read..
either way there will be a vote and people can believe what ever spin story they want….
get ready for plenty of fake news
I really hope all you voters have the courage to stand up for our country when it is time to vote !
I am sure that the 7 mile beach and underwear will not be safe from damage IF the pier is built , because the silt from dredging are going wash out of the harbor and carried to South and North by the current from Nortwester and South winds . Silt moves much easier than sand in the current .
We really need the younger generation of Caymanians to form a Green Party. The older generation has sold out their children.
The problem is that there is no clear political alternative.
Greta has a message for the Cayman Government
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49795270
The CIG does not / not listen to the younger generation.
How old of dart?
I believe the government of the Cayman Islands are stupider than the children. Schools that are trying to educate.
Common sense not to common. Money talks but can’t save the planet from global crisis destruction.
Money (the blind, ignorant all out pursuit of it) is CAUSING the global crisis destruction.
Just look at the high preponderance of thumbs down on the comments critical of the port project in this article. It is evident that the port party have employed a number of people as “influencers” simply to vote against any criticism.
Yep, were are known as Kirkbots..
Wonder who I believe?
The unicorn government who have made it perfectly clear they support the building of this port with almost no exceptions (who have even gone as far as running ads against the people in the country signing a petition) Who have been peddling lies and promising the Sun, Moon and Stars to people
or the scientists with no stake in the game who have remained silent for years and speak not for their own benefit but as a warning of potential risks that we have seen around the Caribbean, who might I add are the regional experts on coral and coral relocation.
XXXXX
No matter what they say, the fact of the matter is Cayman is not safe from government.
NOT EVEN GOD CAN STOP ME
You are failing us, but young people are starting to understand your betrayal.
I would love to see the grades each of them in Government got in school for science. And what
was their overall place in their graduating class.
Otherwise if we have mediocre people, how can we expect to have great results?
Too many pseudo-intellectuals around, interfering in business they know nothing about. People no longer unquestioningly trust many of the former mind managers and pseudo-intellectuals from certain tertiary level institutions.
you could say the same about the anti-port people…….too many armchairs experts around here.
inform yourself with the facts and make your own decision.
The gas-lighting resumes…
The definition of refute implies that the CIG have proven CCMI to be wrong. Simply saying they disagree with CCMI, even they advance other expert opinion which they say contradicts CCMI’s opinion, is not proof of anything other than a disagreement. “Rebut” would have been a better word – or the plain English “disagree”.
Was thinking the same thing when I read the headline
That’s not the point…the dock shouldn’t be built at all.
please explain some more…?
Of course they make their own “scientific” statements. I’m going with the experts on this one and not the two bit hacks in the LA.
I see, 2:52 pm. So in your zeal to tear down the elected representatives you call the “two bit hacks in the LA”, you’re choosing to blindly follow some other “experts” presumably CCMI (what are their credentials and published works on sand movements, by the way?), putting your faith in CCMI’s assertion that was not supported by any research on their part nor any citations of work of other competent experts in the matter. You therefore obviously choose, whether deliberately or by ignorance, to ignore the work of Dr. Richard Seymour, PhD, Professional Engineer, oceanographer, who was head of the Ocean Engineering Research Group at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, who in 2000 was awarded the Moffatt and Nichol Harbor and Coastal Engineering Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers. So, 2:52 pm, is Dr. Seymour also just another “two-bit hack” in your estimation?
Instead of blindly parroting the untested assertions of the CCMI spokesperson, for which they offered no evidence or research results of their own, why don’t you read the facts and see for yourself the several scientific and other expert papers cited in
https://cnslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/Report-Scientific-Evidence-Refutes-CCMI-Claims-Regarding-Impact-to-Seven-Mile-Beach.pdf
Or is that too much inconvenient truth for you?
Yep, the earth is square too!
Why are they wasting our money telling us utter nonsense?
If this is the case, can anyone explain why the beach disappeared from Sunset Cove to Regal Beach instead of piling up there after Sunset Cove was allowed to put there wall out into the ocean? Also why is Sunset Cove on the south side of the wall now have a beach(sand).
Caymanians are so fool. We pay people millions of dollars that common sense and years of experience is staring us in the face..I encourage everyone to go down to the south end of the beach and take a look. Do you realize that guests of the Marriott have to wade through 3 feet of water to get over to the property just north of it…Go take a look and don’t listen to this waste of money report…
The words “not expected to have any impact” are comfort to a fool…What happens if it does?
2.48pm Sunset Cove’s wall affected the beach st Sunset Come.If the dock at George Town hasn’t caused the disappearance of Seven Mile Beach as yet then we have nothing to fear from 2 piers built over the water.
Did you not read what I said….let me put it simply..since the wall at Sunset Cove has been built the Seven Mile Beach to the north of it has diminished to the point where there is no beach left all the way north to Regal Beach..If you don’t believe go take a walk in the water as there is no beach left…
Common sense man..use it ,or go try to walk the beach and see whats left and don’t tell me it will come back as it has been like that for over a year now…
Baird said in the report
” There is no apparent sediment ”
Does this mean absolutely no sediment
Sounds like a half ass study and further more CCMI only gave an analysis or summery of the Baird report and didn’t undertook a independent in depth EIA of their own.
Refuting professional expertise, and pumping false unqualified info into the public domain ahead of referendum is crucial only to those already counting their money. The 2015 Baird EIA included cautionary statements about sediment transfer, changes in water temperature, acoustics, clarity, etc. Baird have also made a video which illustrates how the sediment suspensions from normal, repeated docking thrust will transfer material northward to SMB along existing currents. Seasonal fouling of SMB is just as bad as recurring. Once a thousand years worth of coral and sponge life are smothered, the damage is done. What is THAT cost, and why aren’t the CIG using that as part of their impact formulae?
I hope that once this dock is a full go CCMI won’t back track and try to say that the $10m of coral relocation is still a good option. Cutting that out will provide extra funds for education or the DUMP that we need more than anything. Why waste that money moving coral if they say most will die anyway and it will save time, less time doing construction work in our ocean floor.
Do they really think we have ALL drunk the PPM koolaid!!!!!! How stupid do they think the voting public is???? Shmm!!
More fake news from you dam trouble makers.
Don’t believe what your government tells you. This project is dirty.
Is 7mile Beach safe from the dump too?? Yes. Ok then. Bunch of crooks we got running this place.
I don’t know who to believe at this point.
If I stay at home and don’t vote, is it counted as a YES, NO, or not counted?
Heard there needs to be 50%+1 of registered voters voting against to stop it.
If you stay home it is not counted – that’s obvious.
The implication however by not voting could be interpreted either way.
My suggestion? Don’t be a fool. Go and vote. No miss understandings then.
My personal opinion? Only a fool would think we need the dock bringing more cheap tourists, clogging our roads, adding trash to our beaches & possibly causing the loss of our 7 mile beach if the pier is built.
I could not agree with you more. I am one of the stay over visitors. We have been coming to Cayman for 30 years. We are not wealthy, but we have always thought Cayman to be one of the best family vacation destinations. We stay in a condo on 7 MB, And for the ten days, we probably spend $10,000 US per visit. We are not interested in walking up and down a 7MB that is increasingly choked in spots with tons of cruisers who leave behind piles of trash in the sand when their 5 hour stay is up. I don’t get them anyways – many of them just seem to stand in the water and smoke. We have watched over the years as the south end of the beach has become impassable, due in part to Marriott’s sea wall.
I am sadly amused by the naysayers to the CCMI report. How ridiculous to think that you can relocate acres and acres of coral. THAT is effing around with Mother Nature and it simply wont work.
PLEASE say NO to the cruise project. Please do not sell out to the (relatively) cheap cruisers. Please keep Grand Cayman the relaxing, upscale, family destination that we have always known it to be.
If you don’t vote it counts as a yes for the dock basically. As yours will be counted among registered voters who did not vote against it.
2:21. If you don’t vote AGAINST the dock it translates to a vote FOR it.
Please help to save Cayman!!!
You can’t replant a few million years of natural coral evolution with a coral relocation program.
CIG can pocket a few million in a few years with corruption though.
Protect the reef
I trust CCMI over the Premier & Unity!
To spend $10-20m on coral relocation when this country has so many other needs is disgusting.
The premier, Moses and the great orange one need to be tied together for a few weeks and forced to read all the data out there on climate change!!
The great orange does not read according to his advisors.
Mr. Premier the public need the updated EIA completed and the consultation period before we go to the polls to vote on referendum day. Do the right thing instead of the politically expedient thing please and thanks
Alden McLaughlin and this government will always say that. Is anyone really surprised?
Given his track record there is nothing that says he can be trusted. He ignored the global financial crisis in 2007-08 and look at the mess he created with Education as the Education Minister with the Clinton Hunter school a monument to his ego with classrooms with no dividing walls.
The best example why anything he says cannot be trusted is the derelict and unfinished John Gray High school campus which has been left in a state of disrepair for over a decade. How many more chances will voters give him to cost us all and destroy what makes Cayman unique? None of this lot can be trusted when you examine all the facts.
Everyday I hear people chat about how the only reason they vote is because these politicians give them money, food, kitchen appliances.. whatever they ask for because these politicians are bribing the people for their votes. This should be illegal and most if not all of these politicians should be behind bars.
Aldart has totally become Big Mac…not even trying to hide his selfish motivation.
If anything there should be a positive coral gain over time as many more corals grow on the pilings of the piers. Much more habitat for sea life and coral growth surface than the barren hard pan that is out there now.
I hear you God! Is that writtern in your commandments or is it a psalm ?
Alden continuously targets the CPR and now the CCMI in an attempt to try and maintain dominance and power over the situation. However, his arrogance throughout the mere existence of the CPR petition, followed by the verification process, makes it clear as day that he shouldn’t have any form of power over these islands.
“with 20% reporting >90% survival of transported corals”
60% of the time, it works every time.
But there’s only a 10% chance that.
The tiny piece of coral and rock bottom that the dock will happen on would only mean that maybe the 20 feet of sand right in the harbour would be slightly affected.
I mean, you DO know that the project will require MASSIVELY disturbing an enormous area, not just the “tiny piece” where the piling would actually be, don’t you? Oh, what’s that? Right, I didn’t think you did.
They once built a dock on Mars, and look at it now!