Illegal coral nursery found at Smith Cove

Department of Environment officers have removed an illegal staghorn coral nursery found at Smith Cove.

The department, in a statement issued on 23 June, said more than 70 fragments of endangered staghorn coral, known by its scientific name as Acropora cervicornis, had been found on the structure.

Coral nurseries require National Conservation Council permit permission, and this coral nursery did not have the requisite licence.

“The structure was placed on the natural reef, contravening several provisions of the National Conservation Act 2013, which carries a penalty of up to CI$500,000 and/or four years in jail,” the Department of Environment said.

After removing the structure, the coral fragments were relocated to the department’s nursery at North West Point in West Bay, “where they will be cared for and monitored” as part of the Department of Environment’s coral restoration project.

The coral nursery consisted of ropes that were secured directly to both dead and living boulder corals, the department said.

“This attachment can potentially harm living corals through breakage and abrasion. Additionally, the materials used had begun to fray, which may complicate growth for the corals attached to them. In contrast, approved restoration projects use specially designed attachment systems that aim to reduce impacts and promote coral health,” it explained.

Local dive operators who have conducted dives on that part of the reef say the nursery had been in place for at least a year.

The Department of Environment said the illegal installation “reflected a misunderstanding of coral biology and nursery design, raising concerns about its potential impact on reef health”.

The department noted that, like all corals in the Cayman Islands, staghorn coral is a protected species under the National Conservation Act and is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, reflecting the severe population declines experienced throughout the Caribbean.

Staghorn is also classified globally as an ‘EDGE’ species (evolutionary distinct and globally endangered).

“Following the severe mass bleaching event of 2023, staghorn coral faced significant mortality in the Cayman Islands, resulting in only a few isolated colonies remaining in the wild. Preserving these colonies is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity,” the Department of Environment said.

The department pointed out that the reason the National Conservation Council had not granted any permits for new coral nurseries or the removal of corals from the wild was due to the endangered status of the species locally and globally and “the need to preserve the limited remaining wild colonies for coordinated, NCC-approved restoration efforts”.

The council was also not issuing new permits because of the “limited availability of genetically distinct wild colonies to effectively stock a new nursery, together with the necessity to preserve genetic diversity in restoration efforts,” it said.

The department also noted that, in the past, some authorised nurseries had been abandoned, forcing the department to intervene, rescue surviving fragments, and assume long-term care.

“Successful coral restoration is a complex process that involves careful planning, genetic management, disease monitoring and ongoing maintenance,” the department said.

It added that any claims about newly issued coral nursery permits were “unfounded”.

“Currently, only the Department of Environment in Grand Cayman and the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) in Little Cayman have authorized coral nurseries still in operation under the National Conservation Act. CCMI regularly reports to the DoE to ensure proper procedures and protocols are followed,” it said.

The department’s nursery in North West Point currently homes 142 fragments of pillar coral, or Dendrogyra cylindrus, as well as about 550 fragments of staghorn coral.

“These nurseries act as genetic banks, ensuring some of the Cayman Islands’ most threatened coral species are preserved for future coral restoration efforts,” the department said.

It noted that it is a criminal offence to remove, handle or interfere with corals without the appropriate permits.