Tag: coral reefs
New coral disease found off north coast
(CNS): Department of Environment researchers believe that Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), a major threat to coral reefs in the region, has turned up in local waters. Following a potential disease report by Tom Byrnes from Cayman Marine Lab on 21 June, the department’s own marine experts visited the location off the north coast […]
DoE enlists divers to track coral disease
(CNS): The Department of Environment is asking divers and snorkellers, as they return to the water, to look out for any evidence of a new lethal coral disease. Scuba diving was allowed in Cayman this week for the first time since March, and researchers need people to report any signs of the latest threat to […]
Little Cayman becomes global ‘Hope Spot’
(CNS): Global marine conservation organisation Mission Blue, which campaigns to have critical areas of the world’s oceans recognised and protected, has added the whole of Little Cayman to its list of ecologically critical ‘Hope Spots’. While this does not give the island any additional legal protection over what is already given to it by Cayman […]
Coral resilience expert joins CCMI
(CNS): A leading marine scientist with an expertise in how coral could stand up to climate change has joined the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) as its new director of research. Officials at the Little Cayman facility said Dr Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley will support CCMI’s research objectives to identify coral reef resiliency in a changing climate, […]
CCMI in push to promote need for healthy reefs
(CNS): The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) is launching a new campaign this year to promote the need for healthy coral reefs and why they are critical to the well-being of the oceans and the Cayman Islands in general. The new campaign, “We Need Healthy Reefs”, comes against the backdrop of government’s plans to construct […]
Scientist escalates war of words on coral
(CNS): Greg Challenger, a marine ecologist and president of Polaris Applied Sciences, which is partnering with Verdant Isle Port Partners to attempt to relocate over a dozen acres of pristine coral in the cruise port dredging area, has attacked the credibility of Dr Carrie Manfrino, the president of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI).
Underwater trip to raise awareness
(CNS): With over 20 acres of pristine coral reef and two historic shipwrecks in the direct line of fire from the proposed cruise berthing facility in George Town, a number of local environmental campaign groups have come together to organise an underwater awareness tour. People are invited to climb aboard the Nautilus semi-submersible to see […]
Cayman reefs in fair health, say experts
(CNS): Researchers at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute in Little Cayman said the results of work conducted throughout last year on local reefs has revealed that the coral cover has declined since the last survey 20 years ago from 21% to 17%, leaving them in fair rather than good health. Marking its 20th anniversary, CCMI […]
Verdant: moving coral won’t fully mitigate impact
(CNS): The consortium picked by government to build the controversial cruise berthing project has admitted that plans to relocate and cultivate coral will not fully mitigate the impact of the project on the marine environment. Although members of Verdant Isle expressed high confidence earlier this month that moving the pristine ancient coral from George Town […]
To dredge or not to dredge, that is the question
Courtney Platt writes: I respect our leaders, expect that they have our country’s best interest at heart and they love everyone, just as I do. I have no ill will toward them nor those who have bought into their plan, though I think it flawed.
Cayman attracts green tourism attention
(CNS): Efforts by the tourism industry and NGOs across Cayman are helping the destination earn a reputation for marine conservation. This jurisdiction has come top in several industry awards this year, including for eco-tourism. Despite government’s failure to implement enhanced marine park protections and its determination to build the controversial cruise dock, Cayman remains a […]
