Tag: Department of Environment
Scientists find key piece in coral disease puzzle
(CNS): Researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have found what could prove to be an important piece of the puzzle in what is causing the stony coral tissue loss disease, which is killing coral reefs in the region. SCTLD was first reported off the Florida coast in 2014 and over the last […]
NCC stands firm over EIA on Dart PAD in West Bay
(CNS): The National Conservation Council is standing firm on its directive that the islands’ biggest developer will need to conduct an environmental impact assessment for its planned area development (PAD) application for a major project in West Bay. Efforts by Dart to undermine the validity of the EIA requirement for this proposed new town, applied […]
Fears about 7MB rise as more beach erodes
(CNS): The worsening erosion of the southern end of Seven Mile Beach is fuelling further public concern about the future of Cayman’s world famous beach and this critical tourism attraction. Earlier worries about the erosion caused by years of coastal development too close to the water, especially when sea levels are rising due to climate […]
NCC clarifies ability to direct CPA via DoE
(CNS): The National Conservation Council voted on a motion at its latest meeting to clarify its ability to delegate certain functions of the council to the director of the Department of Environment, as provided for in the National Conservation Act. Almost four years ago, the NCC delegated its power to direct agencies, mainly the Central […]
Poaching of nesting turtles continues
(CNS): A nesting green turtle was lost to poachers at Sand Hole in West Bay recently, after the CCTV camera there was turned off for just over a month because of a lack of funds. As a result, the National Conservation Council has voted to move money set aside for turtle-friendly lighting to pay to […]
NCC confirms need for EIA on Dart PAD
(CNS): The application by the islands’ largest landowner and property developer for a 157-acre planned area development (PAD) in West Bay, which is expected to go before the Central Planning Authority in the near future, will require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before approval. The National Conservation Council has ratified the Department of Environment’s recommendation […]
Ship wastewater linked to fatal coral disease
(CNS): Commercial vessels, including cruise ships, could be linked to the virulent and rapidly spreading coral disease that has swept through the Caribbean region over the last two years killing significant amounts of coral reefs in its wake, according to the latest research. Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has already had a devastating impart […]
CPA directs ‘beach’ to stay in North Side
(CNS): The controversial request by Joe Imparato, the developer behind the Rum Point Club in North Side, to move a large pile of sand excavated from that site to his new development in West Bay has been partially declined. However, the original requirement that excavated sand be returned to the North Side site has been […]
Dart: WTE won’t hurt incentive to reduce or reuse
(CNS): Dart executives have stated that the plan to incinerate and convert the bulk of Cayman’s future garbage into energy will not undermine efforts to reduce and reuse the 100,000 tons of rubbish that the Cayman Islands produce on average each year. The projections for the anticipated increase in waste have emerged from government’s predictions […]
DoE warns that mating turtles come closer to shore
(CNS): A hawksbill turtle, a critically endangered species, washed up last week showing evidence of being hit and killed in a boat strike, according to the Department of Environment on social media. The DoE noted that it is currently turtle mating season, which makes all species vulnerable as they come closer to shore and spend […]
Divers could be spreading fatal coral disease
(CNS): The deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has until very recently been advancing in a uniform path, but with reports of it appearing in random unconnected sites, the Department of Environment is now worried that divers and boat operators may unwittingly be spreading the disease. This latest fatal coral disease was first spotted in […]
