Tag: Department of Environment
Cullers race to combat iguana hatchlings
(CNS): With 885,383 green iguanas in the proverbial bag, the army of local cullers are now racing to keep pace with the invasive reptile’s breeding season. After a drop in the numbers culled during July and August, the Department of Environment is keen to ensure the cull remains on track now that the animals are […]
Planning law needs to support conservation law
(CNS): As government reviews the National Development Plan and the planning law and regulations, Department of Environment (DoE) Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie says that changes to planning legislation were always needed to help support the goals of the National Conservation Law. But there are fears in the community that not only is government going to gut […]
Real protection needed to stop mangrove clearance
(CNS): The Department of Environment is hoping that if Cabinet accepts the recommendations of the National Conservation Council for a species protection plan for mangroves, it will help curtail the constant clearance of these important plants for development. With a number of sites, from West Bay to Snug Harbour, being cleared of mangroves in recent […]
Lionfish culler bitten by nurse shark
(CNS Local Life): A diver taking part in the Cayman United Lionfish League (CULL) tournament today (Saturday, 31 August) was bitten by a nurse shark, suffering a serious injury to the back of his knee. Paul Egleston (70), who is a CULL board member and experienced diver, was hunting lionfish when the shark began aggressively […]
Future of Boggy Sand Beach in jeopardy
(CNS): The shifting sand on one of West Bay’s most famous beaches has caused considerable public concern this summer as large parts of it disappeared. Beaches are dynamic, with sand coming and going depending on the time of year and seasonal weather conditions, but the recent disappearance of a swathe of Boggy Sand Beach has […]
Cullers bag over 850,000 greens
(CNS): The nationwide cull aimed at making a very serious dent in the invasive green iguana population has seen more than 850,000 carcasses taken to the dump since the project began some ten months ago. Despite a surge in cull numbers through May and June, with around 222,000 iguanas killed over those two months, wet […]
Turtle shell found in dumpster
(CNS): The shell of an adult green sea turtle was found in a dumpster at the weekend, which officials said appeared to be the remains from another poaching incident. The shell measured 106cm (41.7in) and likely belonged to a 300-400 pound turtle and a once valuable member of the critically endangered wild population. The discovery […]
DoE seeks support for turtle plan
(CNS): Following the release last month of the Cayman Islands National Conservation Council’s draft sea turtle species conservation plan, the Department of Environment is encouraging the community to take part in the public consultation. The NCL has launched an online survey to make it easier for people to offer support and comments for the plan […]
DoE defends conservation law
(CNS): The public is being urged to learn about and understand the National Conservation Law so that they can properly contribute to the current review and make the most of the law itself, which also provides for considerable public input in various areas. Taking to the radio waves last week, officials from the Department of […]
Development poses growing threat to parrots
(CNS): The continued clearing of land for development in the Cayman Islands is posing an increasing threat to its endemic parrots. Adding to the problem of poaching, the ongoing impact on the National Birds’ habitat is making them less resilient, according to the Department of Environment. With the hurricane season now underway, a major storm […]
Cullers bag over 800k greens
(CNS): A whopping 803,446 green iguanas have now been killed since the culling programme began at the end of October last year. The latest statistics, which were posted on the Department of Environment’s website this weekend, reveals that in June alone over 112,000 greens were bagged and taken to the dump, the largest haul in […]
