A social media video showing a stingray being taken out of the water and placed on top of a couple has prompted an investigation by the Department of Environment.
Cayman Islands Tourism Association president Troy Leacock, responding to the video, which was posted to a local Facebook group on Wednesday morning, said he trusts that DoE will “respond with appropriate action”.
“This is unsafe and harmful handling of the stingray and is completely unacceptable. Stingrays should never be taken out of the water. DoE has issued clear guidelines on the proper handling of stingrays and every licensed operator and employee should know these guidelines and work accordingly,” Leacock told the Cayman Compass Thursday morning.
Guidelines in place
DoE’s John Bothwell, in an emailed response Thursday to Compass queries, said the department was aware of the video and has contacted the company in question.
He said DoE was investigating the incident.
“Stingray Handling best practices guidance notes were reissued in October 2022 and are distributed with WIZ licenses. The Stingray Handling guidelines apply to everyone,” he noted.
In the video, a tour operator can be seen in the water at the Sandbar holding onto a stingray by the snout and tail.
The tour operator proceeds to take the stingray towards a couple where he then lifts it out of the water and places it onto both of their backs and then their heads as they pose for photos.
The video has sparked outrage with commenters calling the action “disgraceful” and “cruel”.
Zero tolerance
Leacock said such practices were discontinued years ago and under the DoE’s guidelines operators are aware that kind of interaction is not allowed.
“For this to still be happening is really disappointing and concerning, because, at this point, now there is no excuse for any operator operating in the North Sound with a WIZ license to be mishandling rays. We have dealt with this years ago about keeping the rays in the water,” he said.
Cayman has worked hard to keep the rays healthy through the pandemic by taking care of them, he said, and for a “rogue operator” to be handling rays in such a manner demands stringent penalties.
“I hope [DoE] identify the operator and take the proper measures to enforce… [even if that means] they remove his license. But there is zero tolerance for this. These rays are worth millions of dollars to us economically and from an environmental and wildlife standpoint, they’re priceless,” he said.
Bothwell noted that stingrays are protected, and said that DoE conservation officers continue to monitor the Sandbar as part of their regular patrols in the North Sound.
The DoE, in its stingray handling guidance notes, asks anyone who witnesses activity they feel is in violation of the rules to report it as soon as possible by calling 916-4271 or emailing [email protected].
“Video or photo reports where there is potentially actionable information, such as if they have the name of the operator suspected, can be submitted” to the department, Bothwell added, noting that the sources of these reports are not disclosed to the suspects.
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