Tag: Department of Environment
Deadly coral disease spreads across Northwest Point
(CNS): The deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), which first appeared in Cayman less than one year ago on the north wall, has now progressed around Northwest Point to the west side of Grand Cayman. The Department of Environment has released an updated map documenting the current progression of the worrying coral threat that […]
NCC directs CPA to reject Boggy Sand house plan
(CNS): The National Conservation Council has made a rare move to direct the Central Planning Authority to reject an almost unbelievable application for a house along Boggy Sand Beach, which the CPA is due to hear this week, after experts pointed out that there are absolutely no mitigating measures that could be deployed to make […]
Director: Harbour marine park not ‘safe or sensible’
(CNS) Joseph Woods, the director of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI), has said that having the George Town Harbour designated as a marine park was not practical or sensible given that it is an anchorage area. Explaining why so much of the harbour, which was previously designated as a marine park under local […]
Species plan can’t protect South Sound mangroves
(CNS): The protection plan for mangroves that was implemented under the National Conservation Law last year is not enough to prevent the clearing of another significant area of mangroves in the South Sound basin in the coming months. Already under significant pressure from massive development, phase three of a major apartment project in the basin […]
Shore fishing allowed in over half local waters
(CNS): Local fisherfolk are still free to fish from the shore around the Cayman Islands along more than half of the country’s coastline. The Department of Environment said there was some misunderstanding in the community about the recent rule changes to the Marine Park regulations and noted that fishing from the shore was still allowed […]
DoE offers cash to divers in fatal coral disease fight
(CNS): The Department of Environment (DoE) is looking for divers who can help them in the national response to the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). With this disease impacting over 20 species of reef-building corals on local reefs, the department needs qualified divers to apply topical antibiotics and where necessary remove infected corals. […]
Underwater cameras to watch-over UKOT sea life
(CNS): The UK is funding a network of underwater cameras across its overseas territories to keep a watchful eye on the sea life and collect data to help in the conservation battle. The Cayman Islands will be included in the rollout of non-intrusive stereo-Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS), which will be deployed in open […]
Massive BT subdivision poses more mangrove threats
(CNS): A planning application by Lookout Holdings Ltd for a subdivision of 437 house lots off Harvey Stephenson Drive, Bodden Town, raises numerous concerns, the Department of Environment has said. In its comments on the application, the DoE noted the lack of an updated overarching development plan, as well as the lack of data to […]
Port marine life still protected, say officials
(CNS): The George Town Harbour, which is now an anchorage zone and no longer a marine park after new regulations were implemented, is still protected because it remains a no-take zone, officials from the Port Authority and the Department of Environment have said. The new zoning also means that in future, divers will need to […]
Mangroves face destruction for land survey
(CNS): The Department of Environment is urging the Central Planning Authority not to allow speculative clearing of important mangrove habitat in the absence of an actual plan to develop at a site off the Linford Pierson Highway. Pros Plus Construction is seeking permission to mechanically clear and fill a more than ten-acre lot to survey […]
E-W Road poses major flood and eco-threats
(CNS): An environmental impact assessment on the East-West Arterial is critical, according to information revealed in a scoping document by the Department of Environment. Government’s plan to build the road from Woodland Drive to Lookout Gardens poses a major flood risk for residents, threatens the very future of the Central Mangrove Wetlands and, in turn, […]
