Researchers logged three Caribbean reef sharks at a depth of around 300 feet off the coast of West Bay last week, which they say suggest the apex predators are seeking refuge away from growing human interference in local waters.
The Department of Environment made the point in a post on its official Facebook page announcing the start of the deep-water ‘baited remote underwater video system’ (BRUVS) survey in Cayman’s waters.
“Three vibrant and healthy sharks are indicators that Caribbean reef sharks are not only one of the dominant species in our coastal waters but that they perhaps seek refuge at deeper depths to escape the impacts of human disturbances such as boat traffic and water sports activities,” the DoE said.
The three sharks, one male and two females, greeted the team as they began the survey.
The sharks, the DoE said, spent over an hour “curiously investigating” the bait and the camera.
“Fish like sharks are attracted to the scent of the bait and recorded by cameras while the habitat is surveyed by cameras as well as technical divers,” it added.
The deep-water project, the DoE said, aims to collect data on Cayman’s deep marine environment.
“So over the next 2 years, we will survey the habitat and species, including sharks, down to 6500 feet deep,” it said, adding that the videos are then analysed by scientists who record all the data collected.
This research project is a collaboration between the DoE, Marine Conservation International, Beneath the Waves, and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland; and funded by the UK’s Darwin Plus project with support from the White Tip fund from the Cayman Islands Brewery.
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