Tag: Department of Environment
Iguana bounty chaos adds to challenges
(CNS): Fred Burton has described the recent green iguana cull experiments on Grand Cayman as “chaotic” and “discouraging”. The blue iguana expert, now working directly with the Department of the Environment on the invasive species project, said two of three professional hunters managed to kill 95% of the iguanas in target locations but within just […]
CPA chair behind controversial project
(CNS): The Central Planning Authority chairman has received planning permission for a controversial South Sound development that has raised a number of environmental concerns. Although Al Thompson recused himself from the 3 August CPA meeting, his Coriander development was granted planning permission by his deputy Bob Watler, according to the minutes of the meeting. The […]
Cayman to host regional marine conference
(CNS): As the country waits on the government to approve the expansion and enhancement of marine parks around Cayman to protect reef fish in particular, the Department of Environment has announced that it will be hosting the annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) Conference on 7-11 November. Officials said that more than 80 countries […]
Public asked to wade in on conservation sites
(CNS): The National Conservation Council is asking the public to make their suggestions and proposals for suitable sites in the Cayman Islands that could be protected under the National Conservation Law. With only around five percent of land in Cayman having any protection at all, local conservation experts are looking for areas which are predominately […]
Cullers bring in 14,400 green iguanas
(CNS): The 18 registered cullers and their support teams managed to bring in more than 14,400 iguanas during the Department of Environment’s week-long green iguana culling project. Local cullers, who were using air rifles, sticks, traps, machetes and dogs, were offered $5 per iguana and have collected a bounty of some $72,000 for their haul. […]
Cullers expected to bring in thousands of green iguanas
(CNS): A week-long pilot project to see how effective local cullers can be in exterminating the invasive green iguana came to an end Sunday evening and it is expected that the team of 18 registered cullers will bring in thousands. Last month a group of three professional hunters killed more than 4,000 in one week […]
‘Shocking’ iguana numbers pose environment crisis
(CNS): Local experts now believe that there are around half a million invasive green iguanas on Grand Cayman. Early estimates indicate the population is doubling annually and there could be well over a million by this time next year. Research by the Department of Environment has revealed that the number of iguanas is far higher […]
Boobies at heart of new seabird research project
(CNS): Biologists have begun an important conservation project in the Cayman Islands to study regionally and globally important seabird populations. Over the next two years, the Department of Environment, in partnership with the National Trust and seabird experts from the Universities of Liverpool and Exeter in the UK, will collect urgently needed information on the […]
Panton reveals challenges of yacht reef damage
(CNS): Government has plans to install a number of moorings that can accommodate super-yachts to help reduce reef damage by anchor chains, Environment Minister Wayne Panton has told the Legislative Assembly. He said that since coming to office, there have been five cases of vessels damaging coral with anchor chains but it has proved challenging to fine […]
Threats continue as CIG mulls marine park plans
(CNS): The National Conservation Council (NCC) and the Department of the Environment (DoE) are waiting for the greenlight from government to begin implementing the proposed enhancement of local marine parks in an effort to conserve local reefs while they are still relatively healthy. As the conservation clock ticks, direct threats to coral reefs around Cayman […]
Allen and DoE complete joint coral restoration plan
(CNS): Following very public disagreements over culpability and how best to remediate a large section of the coral reef off the coast of Seven Mile Beach that was severely damaged by the anchor chain of the luxury yacht owned by billionaire Paul Allen, his company, Vulcan Inc., and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) […]
