Science & Nature
Court confirms NCC powers in Boggy Sand case
(CNS): The National Conservation Council does have the power to direct government bodies when their actions could have an adverse effect on protected areas or species, the Grand Court found in the long-awaited ruling in the ‘Boggy Sand’ judicial review, which was released Tuesday. The judge also found that the NCC can delegate that power […]
Panton ‘steps on toes’ over mangrove development
(CNS): Premier Wayne Panton will not support development in the Central Mangrove Wetlands, he stated on Friday in the wake of comments made by two Cabinet colleagues that building the East-West Arterial extension would offer opportunities for lower-cost homes in the interior. Deputy Premier Chris Saunders and Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan publicly backed the idea […]
Ministers back development in central wetlands
(CNS): Deputy Premier Chris Saunders and Transport Minister Kenneth Bryan have thrown their support behind the development opportunity that the East-West Arterial Road extension will facilitate once it’s extended to Frank Sound. Even though this means developing in the Central Mangrove Wetlands, the ministers backed the construction of homes there and told Caymanian owners in […]
Caymanians fear climate change will impact their lives
(CNS): The cost of living may be the most pressing issue facing the people of the Cayman Islands right now but climate change is also ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important to the majority of people who took part in a recent government survey on the topic. Of the 1,085 people who answered all the questions, 80% […]
Scientists demonstrate new measures for coral disease
(CNS): As scientists continue to research the causes of stony coral tissue loss disease, they are developing various measures to help control its spread. Last week during a workshop on Grand Cayman for scientists on the front line of the fight against SCTLD, a devastating pathogen attacking reefs across the region at an alarming rate, […]
Dozens of baby turtles lost due to bad lighting
(CNS): Around two dozen turtle hatchlings died last week because the nest from which they hatched was close to condos along Seven Mile Beach that did not have turtle-friendly lighting. As a result, the Department of Environment is once again urging people who own beachfront property near critical nesting habitat to contact them for help […]
Over 42,000 corals treated in SCTLD crisis
(CNS): Dr Croy McCoy, a senior marine biologist at the Department of Environment, has warned that coral reefs are in crisis and the current generation of scientists may be the last people who can do anything about their survival. A team of divers has treated over 42,000 corals in Cayman Islands waters with an antibiotic […]
DoE works on reef damaged by boat at Eden Rock
(CNS): Divers from the Department of Environment Marine Unit are working to re-attach damaged corals to the reef at Eden Rock following a recent unreported grounding by a large ship at the popular dive site. The damage was reported by local environmental activist Rory McDonough, who contacted the DoE, the premier and the port authority […]
Sargassum trial stalled as seaweed decomposes
(CNS): The trial to remove the massive influx of sargassum stranded in the North Sound using a pumping system has come to an abrupt end after just a few days because the level of decomposition of the seaweed made continued removal efforts impractical, according to the Department of Environment.
Pumping trial starts on sargassum in North Sound
(CNS): The Department of Environment’s sargassum clean-up trial will continue throughout this week, officials have said. Garvin Park, which is the base for the pilot operation, will remain closed until Thursday to give the contractors time to pump out a significant amount of the floating seaweed, which has been trapped in the North Sound for […]
Sargassum removal trial planned in North Sound
(CNS): There is no easy way of addressing the major influx of sargassum into the North Sound, Premier Wayne Panton said Thursday. Nevertheless, resources have been mobilised for a trial to pump out the invasive seaweed and reduce the impact it is having on the marine life and businesses operating in and around the area.
