How much is a fair price per head for a trip to Stingray City? $15? $75? North Sound watersports operators gave their input last week on industry standards like pricing, licensing and cultural promotion.
Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks invited the public to a meeting on Wednesday that centred around the future of Stingray City.
One month after taking up her ministerial role in November, she said in Parliament that imposing a moratorium on granting new Wildlife Interaction Zone licences — as requested by many current operators — would be a “priority” for her.
On Wednesday, Ebanks-Wilks said she realised that implementing it “isn’t as easy as just striking a pen and writing a Cabinet paper.” However, she spent the evening workshopping terms of reference for a task force to push forward legislative change.
These WIZ licences permit operators in the North Sound to bring visitors to Stingray City to interact with and feed the southern stingrays there. Attendees expressed their concern about an oversaturation of the sector, which makes it more difficult for local businesses to turn a profit.
The minister said she wanted input on not just the “quick fix” of a moratorium, but to address those concerns to make sure operators can continue to offer a “true, authentic, Caymanian experience” for generations to come.
“We need to get to a place where we are actually regulating the industry,” she said.
Beyond the moratorium
While the proposed six-month moratorium could provide some security for operators, those in attendance said more needs to be done to set standards now so they can continue to work sustainably in the long term.
One concern was the undercutting of prices.
Operators took particular issue with unpermitted vessels making trips for $10-$15 a head while permitted companies need to charge several times that in order to pay for staff, licensing, insurance and other expenses to safely run their businesses. One person proposed setting an industry-wide minimum to protect the interests of everyone.
Protecting a gem
Several attendees spoke in agreement about one practice they say has to stop. Reportedly, some people have taken to feeding stingrays off Rum Point.
“You can get to Starfish Point by car,” one attendee cautioned. “You may find that people won’t even rent a boat anymore, they’ll just drive up to Rum Point.”
They agreed the WIZ sites are gems in need of protection, and several people called for greater enforcement at these areas, as well as other unique nature spots like Bioluminescent Bay.
Cultural appreciation
The North Sound operators who spoke shared their pride in being an important pillar of the Cayman Islands’ tourism industry, and they said operators should make it a priority to share the islands’ heritage, history and culture with visitors.
There was some discussion of whether solely Caymanians should be allowed to operate at Stingray City, and how exactly that would be defined.
“When I got to Hawaii, I don’t book a trip with a guy from Ohio,” one speaker said, garnering some applause.
A general consensus was that operators should show genuine care for this unique resource by being respectful of appropriate speed limits, not causing harm to marine flora and fauna, encouraging young Caymanians to explore the industry, and working collaboratively to support one another.
Orneil Galbraith of Blue Sky Sailing said he would appreciate some collaboration with the Cayman Islands Coast Guard and others to establish industry-wide qualifications for watersport operators.
“What I see in Cayman now is a lack of seamanship,” he added.
Nominating members
Ebanks-Wilks encouraged attendees and stakeholders who couldn’t make it to give feedback on what needs to be included in the terms and submit member nominations to [email protected].
West Bay West MP McKeeva Bush, who also attended the meeting, expressed his interest in being one of the members, citing his family ties to the industry.
After she reviewed the current draft with the operators, she said she hopes to soon send the final version to Cabinet.
Related Videos
Stingray City is indeed a gem and ranks as our top tourist attraction along with scuba diving, where we struggle to compete with other Caribbean islands which have a host of natural features which we don’t. As such it is essential that this location be regulated, for the benefit of all.
Imagine a dog city in East End. A sanctuary.
It’s kind of like Stingray city but on land and charge tourists to see dogs. Meanwhile they can get the dogs from the humane society and use Webster Buses to take cruisers to East End to see Dog City.